After the initial successes of the 2011-12 campaign and the follow up 2012-13 season, Napoli have lifted their foot off the accelerator. Still a comparative force on the peninsula but somewhat lacking in European competitions, the Partenopei have settled into a position at the top of Italian football.
However, it’s important that Napoli keep up with the pack, as last season saw them finish Serie A in a disappointing fifth.
Owing much to the reliance on key individuals (namely Gonzalo Higuain) and lackluster defending, Napoli appeared to take a step back under the tutelage of Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard may not have had the same squad as Walter Mazzarri had in recent years, but it was still expected to finish in the top three.
Across all competitions Higuain was the top scorer with 29 goals, with Jose Callejon bagging 12 in comparison showing just how reliant Napoli were on the Argentinian striker.
This reliance is something new coach Maurizio Sarri will be eager to move away from. The former Empoli boss, a Neapolitan himself, will be hoping to establish his own dynasty at Napoli. One of the greatest positives that Sarri has inherited is nobody is pursuing his star players at Napoli, with perhaps the exception of Higuain. For a team that has lost Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi in recent seasons it’ll come as a relief for supporters.
Transfers
The Partenopei haven’t been the busiest on the market. A return for Pepe Reina comes as a surprise to some, considering he’d spent the 2013-14 season on loan from Liverpool, but didn’t make the move permanent. Cast aside by Bayern Munich, Reina has returned to more familiar territory, but there are no guarantees of a first team spot.
Rafael Cabral is still very much the number one at the Stadio San Paolo, but he will have further competition in the form of AC Milan loanee Gabriel. The 22 year-old spent the previous season with Carpi, impressing the Napoli hierarchy enough to prompt a loan offer. Surprisingly, their league rivals accepted, with Gabriel hoping to relegate his compatriot to the bench.
The most exciting arrival has to be Mirko Valdifiori from Empoli. The midfield general was a key player for Maurizio Sarri last season, earning rave reviews for his wonderful passing and vision. Although he still needs to prove he can replicate his performances in European competitions, fans are expecting a lot from Valdifiori.
Elseid Hysaj is the second summer recruit from Empoli, who will likely relieve club captain Christian Maggio of his duties on the right flank. The Albanian was among the standout performers in a overachieving defensive unit, in particular for his influential presence going forward. Capable of swinging the ball into the box with great accuracy and very attentive to his defensive duties, Hysaj could be a crucial addition to the Napoli team going forward.
Perhaps the most important of additions has been Vlad Chiriches from Tottenham. The Romanian may not have cemented a place at the London club, but Serie A offers him an opportunity to live up to his early career hype. A solid, dominant defender during his time at Steaua Bucharest, the Napoli hierarchy will be hoping they can get the same results as Fiorentina with Stefan Savic. With the inconsistency at the back that’s haunted Napoli for some time, Chiriches will be a welcome addition to the defensive unit.
The fifth, and perhaps final recruit is Udinese midfielder Allan. The 24 year-old has featured in over 100 Serie A matches, so he’s certainly experienced enough to play a key part this season. With Walter Gargano gone, Allan will be asked to do a lot of the heavy lifting in midfield, ensuring the likes of Hamsik and Mertens can play with greater freedom. He’s also revealed his desire to represent his country, with Napoli providing a platform to impress Brazil coach Dunga.
The club waved goodbye to long-term servicemen Miguel Britos, Roberto Colombo and the aforementioned Walter Gargano. Giandomenico Mesto was released at the end of season and a number of fringe players were loaned out including Duvan Zapata, Luigi Sepe and Roberto Insigne.
The Coach – Maurizio Sarri
Having guided Empoli to Serie A promotion, Maurizio Sarri went one step further by securing the Tuscan club safety in the top flight. Known for his unorthodox coaching methods and habit of chain-smoking, Sarri ensured his players put on a show with their emphasis on attacking football. With the departure of Rafa Benitez at the helm of Napoli, the board went all out for Sarri. The Empoli boss was born and raised in the city of Naples, which played into the Partenopei’s hands.
In many ways, Sarri is the club’s greatest addition this summer. With a gift for developing younger players and blending them excellently with more experienced individuals, this could be the birth of a long and fruitful relationship between coach and club.
Season Expectations
Anything less than Champions League qualification is considered a failure for Napoli. Fans have suffered early disappointment in the competition in recent seasons, the last being a 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club in the play-off round. With the squad that’s available to Sarri, he should be able to challenge Fiorentina, Lazio and both Milan clubs. However hopes of a league title are misplaced with Juventus still the dominant force on the peninsula.
If Napoli were to follow the trend of recent seasons, then they should have a Europa League final in store for them. Walter Mazzarri could only get the team as far as the last 32, Rafa Benitez went one better with the last 16 and then reached the semi-finals last season. Should this be viewed as progress in the competition, then Napoli looked poised to make the Europa League their own this season.
Prediction
Sadly for Napoli, their summer spending has been strikingly underwhelming compared to their league rivals. The arrival of Sarri may bring a new ethos to the team, but without top quality players they seem destined to finish below Juventus and Roma once again.
Should the situation worsen, it wouldn’t be outlandish to envisage Napoli dropping even further down the table. Both Milan clubs have enjoyed mini-revivals on the transfer market, with both expected to challenge for European football.
A positive campaign in the Europa League could prove rewarding, as this would open the door the Champions League. However, as Rafa Benitez will verify, working on two fronts has it’s difficulties and Napoli will need to be prepared. The Partenopei don’t exactly have strength in depth, and without the necessary grit the team could quickly become exhausted from a cluttered calendar.
Expected finish: 3rd (NB: this is not necessarily Louis Gibberd-Thomas’s opinion but the average of our editors’ predictions.
