Adani rejects Allegri's 'good game' verdict on the 1-1

Adani rejects Allegri's 'good game' verdict on the 1-1 with Lazio

On Rai 2's La Domenica Sportiva, the analyst said Napoli could have conceded six and pointed to friction inside the dressing room. The tone was harsh, but much of it matches what the Maradona said with its whistles.

by Gennaro SanninoMonday 9 November, 22:14 CET· 3 days ago

Adani dopo la Lazio: «Dov'è la bella partita?». E la risposta ad Allegri è già nel nostro 1-1 — Grafica Arena Napoli

Allegri called the 1-1 draw with Lazio on Sunday 8 November a "good game". Adani answered him live on La Domenica Sportiva, Rai 2's football programme: "Where was the good game? There was a good reaction for 20 minutes. In the first half Napoli could have conceded six at home to Lazio."

He also backed the crowd. "The Maradona was right to whistle, but where is the consistency? Where is the second half? Where is the character?"

What the match showed

The words are heavy, but they are not far from what happened on the pitch. Frattesi put Lazio ahead in the 28th minute. Napoli equalised in the 48th when a Lang cross went in, most likely off Pedraza for an own goal.

Napoli had six shots on target and the goalkeeper saved every one. None of our players scored.

The draw leaves Napoli tenth on 15 points. That is 14 behind the leaders and nine off fourth place, which is the target the coach has set.

The dressing room

The most sensitive part of Adani's argument was about the squad. He described a tension that "anyone watching carefully can see": "Now Napoli's players are always telling each other where to go. Lang with Hojlund, Beukema with Hojlund, De Bruyne with Lucca, we saw it in the Champions League."

The De Bruyne and Lucca reference is to the row at the Dragão, which the club chose not to punish. On the other two incidents we have nothing to add.

He then turned to interviews: "They come and give interviews, and each one says something that, in my view, undermines the harmony of the group. He sets himself up as judge and accuses others."

"They come and give interviews, and each one says something that, in my view, undermines the harmony of the group."

Adani named nobody. The timing, though, recalls what Politano said after Porto: "I'd like some other teammates to come and give explanations, not always us Italians." This is still the analyst's opinion, not an established fact, and it should be read that way.

Two verdicts, far apart

Adani ended bluntly: "So what is good at Napoli right now? To put it plainly, nothing." It is a talk-show line. We dislike the tone, not the direction.

The real problem lies elsewhere. Allegri has asked for a "boat to bring into port", and from the outside what people mostly see is a boat taking on water. That leaves an awkward question for us too. If the coach's reading is "good game" and the Maradona's is whistling, someone will have to explain why the two verdicts are so far apart.

Only the pitch can answer that. Torino come to the Maradona on Saturday 21 November at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET). Napoli have now gone three games without a win, and another home draw would not be acceptable.