Davide Dionigi, a coach and former player for teams like Napoli, Milan, and Fiorentina, spoke on `1 Football Club,` a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio. Here is an excerpt from the interview.
Do you believe Antonio Conte should address the rumors about his future to silence them? There`s talk linking him to many clubs that have had a disappointing season. Would it also help to reassure the environment?
`In my opinion, yes, at this point in the season. Not so much to clarify his future at Napoli or elsewhere, but because there`s also a league title at stake. It would be a gesture of clarity, even if he decides to leave. In that case, he should conclude with the Scudetto. If he were to stay, it would provide more certainty for future planning. These half-truths, at this point in the season, are not beneficial. I would clarify everything very calmly.`
These `half-truths` seem to lean more towards Conte`s confirmation. He has hinted that he would like to start again from a team in pole position and has also emphasized that media games are part of the system. He almost seems to enjoy these dynamics…
`Yes, they are part of the game and are often used by opponents to destabilize the environment. However, if we analyze the situation more simply, Conte already has a year of work behind him, and next year he will be in the Champions League. Starting elsewhere would mean rebuilding from scratch. He has already done a great job, and with three or four targeted signings, I believe De Laurentiis cannot fail to satisfy him. If these conditions are met, why not clearly say, `I`m staying in Napoli`? Then it`s true that in football there are strategies and power plays, but it would also be a strong signal for the players to know for sure who the coach will be next year.`
For big clubs, time is relative, and everything depends on results. How do you judge the situations at Milan and Juventus?
`They are two very different cases. Milan, for example, I don`t know how much has really changed with Conceicao. Foreign coaches who arrive in Italy often struggle to adapt because our football is very tactical and competitive. On the contrary, Thiago Motta at Juventus is a different situation. He knows Italian football and had already shown great things at Bologna. Probably, the change on the bench was necessary because the club realized that something was not working. When something is not working, you have to change, even if the football idea is valid. The ownership understood that they were being stubborn on a project that, however interesting, was not giving the hoped-for results.`
Milan invested heavily in the January market, and among the new signings was also Giménez. Are you reserving judgment, given that he arrived only a month and a half ago, or did you expect a more immediate impact?
`In a month and a half, it`s difficult to settle into a new team and a new league. Football history is full of strikers who initially struggled and then became fundamental. The adaptation process is necessary, and you can`t judge a player in such a short time. It`s clear that expectations were high, but there are many variables to consider, including physical condition and tactical context. Patience is needed.`
Lukaku, on the other hand, seems to have changed his style of play. Now he works more for the team, but scores less. Perhaps Napoli would need some more goals from their center forward?
`Lukaku does a fundamental job for Conte, even if he scores less. Since he arrived, Napoli has started to gain points. For Conte, whether Lukaku scores 10 or 20 goals makes little difference: what matters is that he is the point of reference for the team`s attacking play. It`s normal that at 32 he no longer has the same explosiveness as a few years ago, but he is an essential player for Napoli. Without him, at the beginning of the season, the team had obvious problems. Of course, a few more goals would have been helpful, but it would probably have taken something away from the fluidity of the game.`
Overall, then, do you judge Lukaku`s season at Napoli positively?
`Absolutely yes. As a coach, you have to evaluate the economy of the team`s play. If Lukaku had scored more, Napoli might have lost something in their build-up play. Lukaku`s importance in Conte`s system is evident, and when he was missing, the problem was immediately apparent.`
With Kvaratskhelia`s departure, Napoli suffered a decline. Conte had to reshape his choices. Now that the team is recovering important players like Neres, will they return to 4-3-3?
`I hope so, because Napoli had found an important balance both in attack and defense. Now they score less and concede a few more goals, but Conte has probably adapted the team to what he had available. The 4-3-3 seemed to me to be the most effective system, and I hope it can return soon. However, we analyze the situation from the outside, while Conte has a clearer vision of the physical condition and needs of the team.`
What kind of match do you expect on Sunday evening?
`I expect a balanced match. Napoli, at the moment, alternates excellent performances with less convincing ones. It is not yet a completely defined team, but I am sure they will play their game with determination and character. The result will depend on many factors, but Napoli will take to the field with the right mentality to try to win.`