Naples: Delio Rossi Doesn’t Mince Words About Allegri and Lucca
Delio Rossi, speaking on Radio Napoli Centrale during the “Sempre Con Te” program, discussed Massimiliano Allegri’s Azzurri following a difficult start to the season: “What do I think of Allegri’s Napoli? Let’s not forget that Napoli is second only to Inter. They’re a top-tier team; they didn’t make any moves in the transfer market. They were already a strong team, even without any signings. We haven’t seen the real them yet. They have a very, very experienced coach—one who’s used to the pressure and familiar with this league. I’m convinced they’ll turn things around, especially if they get their midfielders back.”
Lucca’s struggles: “Helping him recover mentally? Napoli looked for a replacement; he’s a player who fits in. He doesn’t tip the balance. I don’t know the guy personally, but every time he plays, he wants to prove himself and feels like he’s on thin ice. Sometimes players need a good scolding. There are two types of players. There are those with intrinsic motivation. They make up 2–3 percent—they’re the ones who make a difference and don’t care who their coach is or what’s going on around them. Others, on the other hand, have different interests, like whether their girlfriend is at the stadium, tattoos, who the coach is, and so on. I’ve had players who needed to be confronted head-on. It doesn’t pay off in the short term, but it does in the long run. We shouldn’t assume that just because soccer players earn millions of euros, they don’t care about anything else.”
“These young men aren’t used to managing their daily lives. The first thing they do is buy an SUV, because they live in a world that, in some ways, isn’t real. You have to be lucky enough to have a partner, a coach, or an environment that makes them understand that it’s important to be men first.”
The coach from Romagna reflected on the challenges he faced during his career with Napoli: “What was it like to play against Napoli? I coached for 18 years in Serie A; I was also coaching when Napoli was at the start of the De Laurentiis era. There was even a dispute between me and President Zamparini over Cavani, because I wanted to sell him abroad and not to a direct rival. Back then, we at Palermo were strong, and Napoli wasn’t what it is today. Was Cavani underrated? Like all young players, he had incredible talent. I think he’s the strongest player physically that I’ve ever coached. He never seemed to tire. He had a nose for the goal, but he missed a lot. He was frantic. But a player who gets in front of the net will score sooner or later. The problem is when the striker doesn’t get there. He proved himself to be a champion.”
“My future? I don’t even know how to change a light bulb (laughs—ed.). I’m a coach, and I’m waiting. Do I miss soccer? No, but I miss the day-to-day routine. I miss going to the field, planning practices, and solving problems.”
