Højlund wants a trophy while Allegri settles for fourth place

"Believe in us." Rasmus Højlund made that appeal to Napoli's supporters on Friday 30 October, two days after scoring the goal he had been waiting weeks for. He opened the scoring in the 10th minute at Monza, from a Di Lorenzo assist, in a 1-4 win at the U-Power Stadium. It was his first goal since 5 September.

He has been through the criticism before. The talk on local radio, on social media and in the bars during his drought is part of the job, he said, and it happened at Manchester United too. The only answer is to focus on himself and keep working.

More interesting is where he dates the team's improvement from. For Højlund, the turning point was not Monza but the defeat in Venezia, when the squad began working more as a unit. "We have become stronger," he said. He admits the table does not reflect the quality of the squad, and he is right. Napoli are seventh with 14 points after nine games, 11 behind Inter and Lazio.

More freedom, but he presses first

The most significant part of the interview concerns Massimiliano Allegri. Højlund describes a coach who has given him more freedom, with clear duties attached: be strong in possession, score, help the team and, above all, be the first to press the opposition.

This comes in a week when much of the fanbase accuses Allegri of sending out a negative side, and some want him sacked. Napoli's striker is the one defending the coach's work, and he does it with concrete arguments rather than platitudes.

The other half of the picture needs saying too. Since Venezia, Napoli have conceded three to Bodø/Glimt, three to Roma and one to Monza, who had 35% of the ball and still took 12 shots. The team may be stronger going forward. At the back, the numbers do not yet show it.

Højlund had only warm words for De Bruyne and McTominay: two fantastic players with worldwide reputations, and two people he gets on well with away from the pitch. His understanding with the Scot goes back to their United days. De Bruyne was Player of the Month for September, and McTominay has four goals in two games since his break for an arrhythmia. For a striker who lives on service, there is no better supply line.

The line that will divide opinion

"We have to win something, maybe the Coppa Italia or Serie A."

Højlund knows it will be very hard to win the Coppa Italia (Italy's cup competition) or Serie A, especially with a Champions League campaign to see through as far as possible. But Allegri's stated target is fourth place. The sporting director, Giovanni Manna, talks of the play-offs as the European goal and of a cycle that has "probably come to an end".

When the striker sets the bar higher than the club does, the obvious question is who is right. We side with the Dane's ambition. A team with this squad and this wage bill that starts out by targeting fourth has already handed itself an excuse.

Friday 30 October would have been Diego Armando Maradona's 66th birthday. Højlund said playing in the stadium that bears his name is a fantastic experience: "He is the greatest of all." He also spoke about the area: Capri won him over, he goes back to Pozzuoli often and Ischia is on his list. "Naples is unique."

The fixture list leaves little room for sentiment. Napoli play at Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 1 November at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET). Juventus also have 14 points, and Landucci will be on their bench in place of the suspended Allegri. Porto follow at the Dragão on Wednesday 4 November at 21:00 CET, then Lazio at the Maradona on Sunday 8 November at 12:30.

"If we win them all it can be a very positive week, otherwise a difficult period," Højlund said. He expects "a very difficult game" in Turin.

He has asked for our trust. The first reply has to come from him, at the Allianz Stadium.