Allegri faces the press before Roma with his position under review

The Napoli coach speaks at 12:30 CET on Friday 23 October. The club has made Saturday's game against third-placed Roma the second test of his position.

by Gennaro SanninoThursday 22 October, 21:08 CET· 3 hours ago

LIVE | La conferenza stampa al termine di #NapoliBodo — Foto: SSC Napoli (canale ufficiale)

Massimiliano Allegri will hold his pre-match press conference on Friday 23 October at 12:30 CET. Napoli host Roma in Serie A's eighth round on Saturday 24 October at 18:00 CET (17:00 UK, 12:00 ET) at the Maradona. After the 4-3 against Bodø/Glimt, this is the second match the club has chosen as a test of whether he stays.

The questions waiting for him

The first is about injuries. Vergara trained with the group for only half a session and is a doubt. Rrahmani is carrying fatigue, and Alisson Santos and Favasuli are out. The second comes from Allegri himself, who said this after Tuesday's game:

"When we are in our own half, we are fragile."

Roma arrive third on 17 points, seven ahead of Napoli. Admitting the problem is no longer enough. He has to say how he will fix it.

The tone

Much of the fanbase objects to how relaxed Allegri sounds in front of the press. It sits badly with ninth place. It also sits badly with the defeat at Venezia, a side that had lost all six of their league games before facing Napoli.

On Friday he does not need to calm anyone down. He needs to explain what will be different on Saturday.