Max Allegri's Call for Balance at Napoli Ahead of Inter Clash
Napoli walk into San Siro on Saturday evening with bruises still fresh and nerves exposed. A 2-1 home defeat to Como has already shaken the city’s mood, and it’s only Week 3.
Massimiliano Allegri has seen this film before.
“I understand that at Napoli it's either over-excitement or depression, but we are only in Week 3,” he said, brushing off talk that the Scudetto race might already be slipping away.
Napoli’s loss to newly-promoted Como hurt on the pitch and off it. Giovane picked up an injury, Scott McTominay has been ruled out for several weeks following surgery to correct a small heart issue, and the treatment room was already crowded with long-term absentees Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci.
The setback has fuelled tension around the club. Allegri is trying to cut through it.
“We're disappointed to have lost to Como, but there must be balance, there are so many games still to be played,” he insisted. “We didn't even put in a bad performance, but tomorrow is a head-to-head between the top two in the last two seasons. We go forward with confidence, then we can think about Arsenal and the Champions League.”
Injuries bite, but Allegri flips the script
The injury list is ugly. Allegri, though, is determined to see an upside in the timing.
“Injuries happen, but if you think that after the break for international duty there are nine matches in 26 days, it's better to have those injuries now so everyone can recover in time for that spell.”
It’s a pragmatic spin, but it fits his broader message: stay calm, think long term, don’t drown in one bad week.
That approach extends to how he handles the squad’s younger faces. With several key players missing, the natural question is whether Antonio Vergara will finally get a run of games.
“I don't think we should put too much responsibility onto the shoulders of Vergara,” Allegri warned. “He's a good player, but I think only has 12 games for Napoli, so we've got to take it easy.”
He confirmed Vergara’s absence from the Como pitch was a tactical choice, not a snub.
“I made a different choice against Como, he remained on the bench because I am only allowed five substitutions. We are improving physically, I am happy with how the lads are training, now we have to make fewer errors in the matches.”
Errors. That word keeps coming back. Napoli’s performance levels haven’t collapsed, but the details are costing them.
De Bruyne waits, McTominay leaves a hole
Kevin De Bruyne has yet to start a game this season. His status looms large now that McTominay, a central pillar of Allegri’s midfield, is unavailable.
“He is improving,” Allegri said of De Bruyne, “but naturally I need to balance out the midfield without McTominay, as this limits the options.”
Benoit Badiashile is at least back in the squad, another piece returning to the puzzle.
“Benoit Badiashile is in the squad, I'm pleased with what I saw in training. I cannot ask anyone else for what we get from Scott, so it's a different player with different characteristics.”
That line is telling. Allegri isn’t pretending he can simply plug the McTominay gap. He knows he will have to redraw the midfield rather than copy-paste roles.
Back to San Siro, and a familiar giant
Saturday’s clash at San Siro is loaded with subplots. Allegri returns to the stadium where Milan sacked him last summer, though his personal record in the Derby della Madonnina remains spotless from last season, with two wins against Inter.
“Playing in that stadium is always marvellous, while Inter and Napoli love to do battle,” he said. “We need a good performance with fewer technical errors, because those are costly.”
Then came the line that will echo around both dressing rooms.
“Inter are the real favourites for the Scudetto. We've got to be more careful, as we conceded two avoidable goals against Como. Head to head clashes are always difficult to win.”
Calling Inter favourites is both a nod to reality and a way of shifting pressure off his own side. Napoli, after all, had to be cautious in the transfer market, restricted by the need to sell before buying, while their main Serie A rivals spent heavily.
Allegri isn’t interested in that narrative.
“There's no point looking at the others, we need to focus on ourselves. I'm pleased with the squad at our disposal, we've got to lay the foundations now for what will be the final push of the season, taking one step at a time.”
Napoli arrive in Milan wounded, short-handed, and facing the team their own coach calls Scudetto favourites. The mood around the club threatens to swing wildly again. Allegri’s challenge is simple, and brutal: can Napoli finally learn to live somewhere between panic and euphoria?
