Allegri defends criticised players: 'The window is closed'

Allegri chose to defend his squad rather than explain Napoli's form. He spoke before the match against Bodø/Glimt at the Maradona on Tuesday 20 October, kick-off 21:00 CET (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET).

Then came the line that will be debated in the city. "Do we throw 10 overboard every day because one plays badly? The window is closed, we can't change 10 every day. We need to lift our heads and show that we can be at Napoli."

The window did close on 1 September and reopens on 2 January. But nobody among the critics is asking for 10 changes a day. They want the coach to change something in his selections, his roles and his approach.

Allegri named no names, and we will not name any for him. It is hard not to think of De Bruyne, though. He scored twice against Frosinone on 10 October, then vanished at Villarreal and Venezia, where he missed a penalty in the 68th minute, saved by Stankovic.

Trust is not the problem. For a coach it is a duty. But trust alone does not explain why Napoli have no points in the Champions League after Arsenal and Villarreal, or why Venezia brought the fifth defeat in nine official games.

There is also a contradiction the fanbase will not let pass. If the players "were chosen by Napoli" and must be defended, someone has to answer for the overall design: the people who built the squad and the man who picks the team. This summer the club also had liquidity reserves close to €200m that were left untouched by management choice. Saying "the window is closed" now sounds like a door locked from the inside.

On Bodø/Glimt, Allegri said they are a strong, fast side, good in a low block and on the counter-attack, and dangerous when they win the ball back. On Venezia, he described a first half that was not very brilliant and a more convincing second, but a negative result. We leave the verdict on the second half to the fans who were there.

On Saturday, after the defeat at the Penzo, Allegri had promised: "We will get out of this moment with me." How he is defended matters less than how the team plays.

The test begins on Tuesday 20 October at the Maradona, against a side that has already knocked Lazio out in Europe. Then Roma visit on Saturday 24 October. This time the trust has to be seen on the pitch.