Luciano Spalletti hopes to finally give the Napoli fans what they deserve when by clinching the league title at Udinese on Thursday.
It was hoped the Azzurri would do that against Salernitana but while expressing his disappointment at seeing some sadness on Sunday, the boss insists that his team and the city of Naples are enjoying their triumphant campaign to the full.
This is what Spalletti had to say in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday:
Does Udine bring back fond memories from the start of your coaching career?
"There are lots of people that I've remained close to in Udine and at other clubs where I've coached. Udinese are a top-level club and I very much enjoyed working there and achieved some great results. The Pozzo family have always been very close to me and I'll be happy to see Pierpaolo Marino, who is a legendary figure at Napoli too.
"Tomorrow we have a match that could mean a lot for our club's history. We're savouring the Scudetto and we deserve this success. Now we need to finish the last few metres then we must continue until the end of the season to honour what we've done thus far.”
Is there anything in particular you want to say to your players after this phenomenal season?
"I was sure that I had a group of thoroughbreds. I'm happy they've shown their quality and character to everyone, by coming through tough moments too. This title victory unlike any other and it can only benefit Napoli and football in general.”
What kind of day will it be like you tomorrow as coach?
"I am just the reflection of the joy we can give to others. My thoughts are the same as the fans'. It was mortifying to see them disappointed on Sunday after the game against Salernitana and it makes you want to give them huge joy. My thoughts are always to make our fans happy.
“Seeing the stadium decked out in blue on Sunday is what I had imagined and hoped for since joining Napoli. That sight gave me much more than many victories. I realised the enormity of what we're doing.”
What are the dangers of tomorrow's match?
"[Andrea] Sottil was a player of mine and even back then you could see that he played the game with a coach's mentality and personality. Udinese are a strong, well-drilled side. They get lots of men into the box and that's something we must be wary of.
"That's not to see we are scared of anything. We'll show the quality and attitude we've produced in every game. My team have shown their capable of mixing it up at different stages of the same game. It will be the same tomorrow: we must keep changing it up.”
