Napoli have “massive opportunities” this season, according to captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, but “can’t concede an inch” in their hunt for the Serie A title.
I Partenopei is 13 points ahead of Italy’s top division and aiming for the first Scudetto since the 1989-90 season.
So far, Napoli have won 17 of their 20 league matches (D2 L1), including 15 of their last 16, scoring 48 goals and conceding just 15.
Before his Sunday trip to La Spezia, Di Lorenzo spoke to Serie A’s official website, saying: “It would be a lie on my part to say we don’t have huge opportunities this season, but there is still a very long way to go. and we can’t afford an inch.
“We just need to focus on our work, which is what got us to where we are at this point in the season.”
For the first time in the three-point-for-win era (since 1994-95), there were 13 points between the first and second teams in Serie A after 20 games played.
“I never imagined such a start to the season. What we’re doing is something really special and it’s just a reward for all the hard work we put in during the preseason and summer and continue to do now,” Di Lorenzo said. .
13 – For the first time in the era of three points for a win (since 1994/95) between the 1st and 2nd sides of the table after 20 games played 13 points (previous biggest gap was in the 2006/07 season, 11 points between Inter and Roma). Abyss.#NapoliRoma pic.twitter.com/F6C6VbBcwF
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 29, 2023
“From the first day there was a good mood among the players in the dressing room, a lot of young people wanted to show their value to the team, especially after a strange summer when some important players left. Our confidence and faith has grown from game to game and now we have to keep it.”
Luciano Spalletti surprised many with his ability to build such a dominant team despite losing the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Kalidou Koulibaly, Dries Mertens and Fabian Ruiz at the end of last season.
“Over the past two years, our ability to control the game and manage possession of the ball has improved significantly. I would also add that we are more confident, sharper and freer on the field; it grew as the results got better. We are very happy and we just need to keep going like this,” added Di Lorenzo.
“More than ever [Stadio Diego Armando Maradona] lending a helping hand this year. You can feel the passion of the fans who support us in every game, you can almost touch it. We can only thank them. I also realized that the mood in the city depends on our performance at the weekend, so this huge responsibility motivates us even more.”