Landucci fears Napoli have lost Lobotka for a while after ankle injury

Allegri's assistant spoke for the coach after the win, defended him against his critics and would not say who will start in goal at Juventus. The defensive numbers do not back the defence.

by Gennaro SanninoWednesday 28 October, 23:34 CET· 12 hours ago

Stanislav Lobotka — Foto: Harpagornis · CC BY-SA 4.0

Napoli won, but the injury to Lobotka mattered more than any goal. The midfielder went off in the 17th minute with Gilmour replacing him. The first diagnosis is a contusion and sprain of the left ankle.

Marco Landucci, Allegri's assistant, gave two answers that did not quite agree. The first was cautious: "He took a nasty knock and his ankle turned. He'll have an X-ray tomorrow and we hope it's nothing." That X-ray is on Thursday 29 October. The second answer was more honest: "We fear we've lost him for a while." Between the two came the detail that says the most: "he's on crutches now."

When an assistant coach says "we fear" four days before Juventus-Napoli, the hope that it is nothing sounds more like politeness than a forecast.

Defending Allegri

Landucci was the one speaking, and he spent much of the time defending Massimiliano Allegri.

«Prima criticavano Allegri per il corto muso, adesso perché prende troppi gol»

"Before, they criticised Allegri for winning by a nose. Now it's because he concedes too many goals," he said. It is a good line, but the facts support the second complaint. Napoli have conceded 11 league goals in nine matches, three of them to Roma at the Maradona. They also let in three against Bodo Glimt in Europe.

Landucci added that "the only way to silence criticism is to win matches". True, but it cuts both ways. This win came after two defeats and a home draw. Napoli are sixth on 14 points, 11 behind Lazio and Inter. Some of the fanbase want Allegri gone, and one win will not change their minds.

He was on firmer ground when he said: "Napoli are strong, and getting Anguissa and McTominay back is important." Anguissa stayed on until the 63rd minute, and McTominay is back after his arrhythmia. With Lobotka out, the midfield cannot afford to lose either of them.

No decision in goal

Landucci did not say who will start in goal against Juventus: "We have two strong goalkeepers and we decide match by match. Vanja was very good tonight." Our data says nothing about his saves. The match sheet only shows that he conceded once, to Varela in the 43rd minute.

Milinković-Savić talked like a goalkeeper: "First of all you have to make saves. Playing with your feet is a bonus." He added: "You have to take it one game at a time, and then wins bring enthusiasm. There are difficult games on the horizon." The next one is at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday 1 November at 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET), so that needs no comment.

The pundits

Among the TV pundits, Ferrara said that "Napoli are smiling again" and that "the only negative is Lobotka's injury". He also pointed to "Hojlund scoring again and Politano confirming his form". The numbers back him on Politano: a goal in the 48th minute and an assist for Marín in the 62nd, before Vergara replaced him.

Marcolin said Allegri is "slowly getting to know the team". He meant it kindly. But Allegri was announced as head coach on 3 July, and this is late October after nine league matches. A fanbase asking for courage and a sounder defence will hear that as an excuse, not a compliment.