SPORTS

Napoli and the pursuit of a dream

The southern Italian team has had a hard struggle to get back to lift the 'Scudetto' after 28 years

Napoli and the pursuit of a dream

SSC Napoli is materializing an excellent season after a process that has led it to be prominent in the Italian league club. Just 24 dates of the championship have passed and the Azzurri march first in Serie A in Italy. The six-time winner, Juventus, is its biggest rival. Although the club is also disputing the UEFA Europe League, all its efforts are concentrated in the Italian league.

The Neapolitan club has made a serious and laborious season to fight for the ‘scudetto’ title that has not been able to obtain during 28 years. Their last league title was won in the 1989-1990 season by the best trident in the club history: the Argentine Diego Armando Maradona, the Italian Bruno Giordano, and the Brazilian Careca, who formed the historic team called "MaGiCa".

All the players have formed a group together and are focused solely on getting the three points in every game that they dispute. The whole city of Naples is confident that the team can meet the long – awaited dream of winning the title.

Total commitment

The team directed by Italian coach Maurizio Sarri have stressed on several occasions the group and individual commitment that has been created on the team. In this squad, there is no struggle of egos; on the contrary, all have joined forces to win the title of Serie A.

Belgian Dries Mertens, who is the top scorer and assistant of Napoli , with 5 goals and 6 assists in 24 matches- is the true proof that everyone's commitment is total. "To win the Scudetto, I would play as a winger and goalkeeper if Sarri asked me to. Even if Reina was not very happy”, Mertens told the Italian newspaper Il Mattino.

"My hope is called 'Scudetto', mine, the fans, the one with De Laurentiis, teammates… and I think it is also the desire for football fans, because we played wonderfully well and I think we deserve to win”, Marek Hamšík, captain, idol, top scorer in the club even over Diego Armando Maradona. Hamšík is the third player with most appearances in the club.

Seriousness at home and outside it

The club has played in the current Serie A 24 games, 12 at home and 12 away. As a local, Napoli has a record of nine wins, two tied, and only one lost. The Sarri team finds its biggest fortress as a visitor, since in 11 matches it has won 11 victories and only one draw. The club has shown a total commitment to each of their matches, which has led to an impressive run of nine straight games unbeaten, eight of them with victory.

Napoli effectiveness attack is high; it has scored 54 goals in 24 games. Moreover, Sarri defense system is strong and safe, it has the meanest fence, along with Juventus, with only 15 goals conceded. The club still has to face 14 matches to be crowned champion, but it will only happen if it maintains its unity, commitment, excellent style of play, and the high level shown each player azzurri. Napoli must use all its strengths to commemorate its greatest eras, as it will need to win and not to succumb to the intense pursuit of Juventus.

 

Latin American Post | Javier Aldana
Translated from “Napoli, en busca de un sueño”

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