Former defender and current coach Nicola Mora spoke to 1 Station Radio following Sunday evening`s draw between Parma and Napoli, two of his former clubs. He began by reflecting on Romelu Lukaku`s performance, which he found disappointing: “I didn`t expect it. He surprised me, unfortunately negatively, because I`ve always supported this player, who is often criticized and unfairly treated. Yet he`s a player who reached double digits in both goals and assists this season: it`s absolutely not a season to discard. In such a crucial moment, I thought he was the leader chosen by Conte to inspire everyone. We`re talking about a player who has had significant experiences at big clubs, even winning major trophies. We expected him to be a driving force. On Sunday, I wouldn`t say he was a complete liability, but he came very close. And this impacted Napoli`s overall performance.”
Is another starting striker needed for Napoli`s attack? “Definitely, because we hope for a prominent Champions League campaign. Napoli is already active in the market, with negotiations ongoing even before the season ends. The various names linked to the team suggest it will be a sparkling transfer market. We`ll then see if Conte stays, which I believe he will, and that would represent a guarantee for the club. But now we need to focus solely on Friday`s match: I think a lot depends on that outcome.”
Regarding Conte`s statement that he feels tired, Mora commented: “I believe his outburst stems precisely from the criticism he receives, both concerning the team`s playing style and their performances. But if we analyze it carefully, since January, the team has also faced significant challenges, such as being deprived of Kvaratskhelia`s talent, and issues with other players like Neres, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Lobotka, and other injuries… yet the results were achieved. Today we are ninety minutes away from a Scudetto that seemed unexpected at the start of the year. The difficulties were certainly there, but he faced them all, managing a group that on paper was less strong than Inter. This is a fact.”
On the scheduling of the final matchday for Friday: “The calendar is too compressed, we know that. Due to Inter`s Champions League final, the match had to be moved forward, yes, but perhaps it could have been on Saturday, not Friday. It`s not our fault if Inter is playing the Champions League final and needs more days to prepare. It`s fair to give them the necessary time to recover their energy. Looking at Napoli, a lot of energy has unfortunately already been expended. But playing on Friday, on a workday, slightly reduces public participation. If, as we hope, Napoli were to win the Scudetto, celebrating at night wouldn`t be the same as a daytime celebration, perhaps on Sunday afternoon. That said, more time is needed, calm is needed, as Conte always says. We need to prepare the match well and gather mental energy. I believe the choice of Friday was made to also guarantee Inter adequate preparation time for the final, and that`s understandable.”