Napoli isnt first in the league, so they dont play the best football. I dont care they are good at killing $#@!ty the relegation $#@! with 14-0 scores. Its about results. That "great possession play" doesnt outscore the opponent enough.
Napoli failed hard. They asked their 3 forwards to operate isolated when somehow in a bazillion years, they get a pass into their feet (they cant controll $#@! unless its like that). Without backup the first 4 decades.
If you have Higuain or Cavani, thats just fine. If you have actual world class quick forwards, thats also fine. Napoli doesnt have players who can do that.
Then they expected to get past that midfield with quick flicks. Thats fine when you have players like Griezman (athletico liked to do that alot on counters, committing limited players but they could combine like lightning), or verratti who needs one glaze and half a touch to send a blind 40 meter pass onto cavani's third shoelace line.
Napoli cant do that. they $#@!ed that up consistantly, cause they lack the ability to do so.
Sarri asked far to much from the players he has. They arent good enough.
He should play at their strenghts. Let them move much higher up the field, immediatly press forward wide down the wing and have Mertens and Hamsic move in the space it creates. There is alot of space to be abused
However, they didnt do that, madrid simply took the ball back each time, and their fullbacks could play like offensive wingers cause they had no need to cover behind them, as napoli never send the numbers which would actually make it a risk to do so.
Hazard is a player who requires good coaching. Which is why he sucks balls playing for belgium, but turns into worldclass when managed by an actual tactician, and not $#@!ty the wilmots $#@!.
Mertens is a nice quick forward. No need to overpraise him. Higuain would have done better and scores at least once.