In “1 Football Club,” a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio, attorney Domenico La Marca was interviewed. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
How do you evaluate Napoli`s win against Torino?
It was a mature performance from Napoli against Torino. They met expectations and, importantly, showed significant emotional strength, unfazed by the pressure from the earlier result at the Meazza. Napoli started proactively from the first minute and credit is due for immediately opening the scoring with the Serie A`s most in-form player – I`m clearly referring to McTominay – which somewhat put the game on a downward slope for Torino. The match was effectively decided in the first half thanks to the Scottish midfielder`s second brace of the season. In the second half, Napoli skillfully managed the game, avoiding dips in performance and preventing Torino from getting back into it. The Granata didn`t even manage a single shot on target; in fact, the Partenopei nearly scored a third through Billing.
Next match is against Lecce. Do you think this represents the most complicated fixture for Napoli?
The match against Lecce will be very significant, if not decisive, as on paper it represents the toughest challenge Napoli will face in this final part of the season. Lecce delivered an extraordinary performance, both emotionally and technically, against Atalanta in Bergamo, showing incredible dedication to the shirt and coming close to a win that would have gone beyond the purely sporting aspect. The Lecce seen against Atalanta is a formidable opponent, and Napoli will need to be very cautious against Giampaolo`s side, who are desperately seeking crucial points for survival.
Given the results from the last round, how will the Scudetto race between Napoli and Inter end?
There are still 12 points to play for, and the margin for error is shrinking for both contenders. For months, it`s been said that Napoli would theoretically have a less difficult schedule than Inter in the final run-in, but in football nothing is guaranteed and maximum focus must always be maintained. From this perspective, having a coach like Conte is a guarantee.
Would you like to see Ferguson at Napoli?
We`re talking about a player with characteristics that would be useful to this Napoli side, as the Scot has demonstrated over the years his ability to find the net with relative ease. At the same time, he`s a player with personality and is tactically disciplined. He`s a midfielder who would fit in perfectly with Napoli`s squad next season.
How do you evaluate Juventus`s win against Monza?
Against Monza, the only thing that mattered was winning, capitalizing fully on a matchday that could favour the Bianconeri. Indeed, they gained points on Atalanta and, crucially, on Bologna and Lazio, Juventus`s next opponents. Juventus had the merit of closing the game in the first half with goals from Nico Gonzalez – who becomes increasingly crucial starting from the Bologna match given Yildiz`s expulsion – and Kolo Muani, the French forward who finally found the net after a long spell. This could provide a significant injection of confidence for his final stretch of the season.
Will Bologna vs Juventus be a crucial match for the Bianconeri regarding qualification for the next Champions League?
Bologna has always performed well, especially at home against the top teams in the league. They are a team playing on the wings of enthusiasm and, crucially, they manage to trouble opponents with the intensity they bring for the entire ninety minutes, as well as the quality of their players. Italiano`s side is having an extraordinary season and will surely want to surprise further in this final phase. Juventus needs a significant performance, also aware that the absence of a player like Yildiz, capable of making decisive plays, could prove costly. With the unexpected defeat against Parma, the match against Bologna truly becomes a very delicate challenge for the Bianconeri, also because many teams are still in the running for fourth place, and especially Roma, who is impressing in terms of result consistency.