On Saturday, Rudi Garcia gave his first press conference at Dimaro Folgarida. Here are fivetakeaways selected by Forza Napoli Press.
Garcia’s Hire
Perhaps the reason Aurelio De Laurentiis hired Garcia was because he has experience coaching a team who had just won a league title. The Frenchman remained at Lille after the club won Ligue 1 for the first time in 52 years and the Coupe de France for the first time in 55 years. As Garcia admitted, the following season did not go as planned – perhaps he too was a little inexperienced – though third place (via a playoff win) was not a terrible result either. Garcia knows that he must work first on the players’ mentality, ensuring they maintain the high level of play that they proved they are capable of.
Tactics
Garcia intends to play with a 4-3-3 formation. However, the players also need to be capable of using other systems, when required. Garcia will develop his plans B and C once he’s had the opportunity to assess all players, including those returning late after representing their countries on international duty. Garcia’s Napoli will have many of the same qualities as Spalletti’s: a high line, a high press, the counterpress and plenty of ball possession. However, consistent with his historical approach, Garcia’s team will be more direct. Though he still intends to build up from the back and retain the ball, Garcia also wants his team to be “deadly on the counter-attack.”
Transfer Market
Don’t expect many changes in player personnel, at least not any time soon. Garcia wants to evaluate the players he has; to see them with his own eyes. That includes Hirving Lozano and Piotr Zielinski, both of whom have contracts expiring in 2024. That also includes Alessandro Zanoli, who has been linked to a move to Genoa, hence why the Davide Faraoni rumours have stalled. Garcia is most concerned about adding depth, or “doubling the quality” in some positions. Maxime Lopez will not be the added depth to the centre of the midfield, for per Garcia, he is not the profile of player the club is looking for. Lucas Tousart could be that player, potentially as a backup to either Stanislav Lobotka or André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. As Garcia noted, the players in his teams need to have some physicality.
Young Players
The new Napoli manager confirmed that he called up a number of youth players to Dimaro because everywhere he’s gone, he’s kept one of the youth players with the senior team. Having been relegated from Primavera 1, the current batch of youth players simply aren’t good enough. However, there are plenty of ex-Primavera players who could fill that role. One option is Giuseppe Ambrosino, fresh off his first season of professional football (with Como and Cittadella in Serie B). However, with Victor Osimhen, Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori, Napoli already have an abundance of talent at the nine.
Another option is Michael Folorunsho. The former Lazio Primavera player had the best season of his career in 2022/23, scoring eight goals and adding two assists in 27 appearances. The 25-year-old midfielder, who certainly has the physicality to back up Anguissa, also scored a goal in the Coppa Italia and tallied two assists in the Serie B playoff. Former Napoli Primavera player Coli Saco has a similar profile, but may yet be too raw for such a big stage.
Sinatti’s Departure
Amongst the new staff that arrived with Garcia is Athletic Trainer Paolo Rongoni. Shortly after Rongoni’s arrival, current Athletic Trainer Francesco Sinatti handed in his resignation. According to Garcia, the Napoli coach offered to give Sinatti and Rongoni the same title. However, Sinatti, like Luciano Spalletti, claimed that he did not have the energy for another season.
