Allegri insists Napoli will come through this with him in charge

Massimiliano Allegri walked into the press room at the Penzo stadium minutes after Adams' goal in the 49th minute had settled Venezia-Napoli 1-0. Asked about the result, he pointed instead to the numbers: his side had had 29 shots in total. "It would have been better if we'd only had one shot and scored," he said.

"I only know one way: keep working and turn today's disappointment into anger. It means that right now we need to suffer. It's up to us to turn this moment around. Now we have the Champions League game on Tuesday," Allegri said, already looking ahead to Bodø/Glimt. Napoli go into that match on zero points in the Champions League, after defeats to Arsenal and Villarreal. If Napoli really are about to change gear, it will be seen at the Maradona on Tuesday, not in further statements to the press.

Allegri then defended the performance itself: "I think when a team has 29 shots on goal and misses a penalty, you can change as many centre-backs as you like. Right now the table isn't smiling on us, we have three defeats. There's only one way: keep working and try to bring the unlucky moments onto our side."

Asked directly whether Napoli can come through this moment with him still in the dugout, he left no room for doubt.

Absolutely yes. If you look at the results there can be concern, but if you look at the performance you change your mind. Today we played an orderly game and we fell because of half a mistake. I've been through a couple of spells like this in my career, so the only way is to keep working.

The trouble is that "half a mistake" and "an orderly game" sound here like another chapter of the same story: a third defeat in seven league matchdays, ninth place on 10 points, and Kevin De Bruyne's missed penalty still weighing on the night. Allegri wants the performance judged rather than the result — but results are a coach's trade, and the table does not get fixed in a press conference.

On the team changes that did not pay off in the first half, and on Lucca and Giovane, Allegri stood by his choices: "Napoli's squad is excellent, the same players can't always play or they'll be worn out. Lucca fought hard, it had been a long time since he'd started. Beukema came back well. Now we need to think about working towards Tuesday." Lucca, who came on during the game at the Penzo, was praised for his effort rather than for minutes as a starter — the shirt from the first minute went once again to the player who had been wearing it for weeks.

Three days remain before Bodø/Glimt arrive at the Maradona, their supporters asked by the club to hide gadgets and wear neutral clothing. Allegri has chosen words of anger and confidence in the performance. The Curva — the hardcore end behind the goal — after another defeat and a protest that has grown in recent hours, is waiting to see those words on the pitch, not in another press conference.