Sacchi was 100% correct in everything he described, not only lacking top players with experience to win, but they mentally just huff and puff until first obstacle then crumble under pressure. They litterally are stuck in a loop and dont realize it, he gave them sage advice for sure IMO. Manage your expectations, put in the work, hope for the best, learn from your mistakes, but dont aim too high and crush your souls when you overreach too much. Stop seeing every game as a final and everything is over if you faulter even a little. Their games vs Atalanta past season was text book example of what Sacchi means...
Anyways here's my favourite part of what he said:
“I don’t think there are players at Napoli with the pedigree of winning things domestically or abroad.
“It’s better if they proceed with caution. They don’t have to play with the anxiety of needing to win.
“They can’t think that if a trophy doesn’t follow, it’ll be a failure, but their players must still give their best, with the same availability and enthusiasm that they’ve shown in recent times.
“Putting pressure on yourself is an unforgivable mistake. Performances aren’t enough, Juventus know how to handle moments of difficulty.
“As soon as Napoli lose even a millimetre in their game or concentration, they don’t know what to do. That’s because they have no top players like Juventus do, for example.
Its not an insult if its true, adapt and adjust, try again, stop repeating the same mistakes (which is not winning title btw, but mentally check out same way every time).
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Oh I agree with that part about managing expectations, but not that they can't put the scudetto as an objective and that they are worse than the other teams that are not named Juve.
I dont think he really thinks they are worse then the others, but they have intricate mental flaw with pressure and expectations that comes with the small stature of the club and the hotheaded city. If Milan had the same quality of players and coach Napoli do, they would defenitely do better then Napoli, just because they are a calm top club that KNOWS what it means to win and what it takes. Same is true for Inter to lesser degree (much lesser degree, since their successful eras are too accidental timed peaks and not born out of good organisation), you need the right type of top coach or players, and more importantly the top organisation and belief behind it to handle it all.
There is a reason Napoli only have 2 scudetti, and it was due to having best player of all time, they simply dont have the winning culture/quality/finances required to get there. All that comes with the baggage mentally.
They are still easily the 2nd best club for sure, since Roma weakened themselves (lets see how they replace Salah). But it wont take much for Milan or Inter if they get their shit in order coming years, to again overtake Napoli. They naturally have the the gravitas that provincial side like that lacks.