Massimiliano Maddaloni, coach and former manager of Carpi during Giuntoli's time, spoke on Radio Crc during Raffaele Auriemma's program "Si Gonfia la Rete".
“Kim? When I was in China and I was coaching the national team I fell in love with Kim, I told Giuntoli that in a couple of years, when Koulibaly left, he managed to get him.
The difference between Giuntoli and the others is that Giuntoli has the personality and the ability to take unknown players and replace them with top players. Unknown players who then became decisive even in winning the championship.
Last year I was often in Naples to follow the training sessions, now I think the daily routine is missing. From a tactical point of view the players felt part of the Spalletti project while Giuntoli worried about the daily problems for which there was a serene environment.
Today I see Napoli in confusion both from a technical and corporate point of view, so the players do not see themselves in this way of playing. Napoli therefore has the same team from the point of view of the players, but not the same from a tactical and mental point of view.
The combination of many components has made Napoli strong on the playing field and on the corporate one. De Laurentiis has many merits, but also demerits and he presumptuously thought that he could manage all situations alone.
Garcia for many was not the right choice and I believe he was not suitable for this team. De Laurentiis' initiatives confirm the state of mind of the situation and he had to expose himself to protect the coach also because he tried to replace him and when he failed he tried to give strength to the coach.
But it's not just words, we need to understand if what he said can also be done on the pitch. If Giuntoli had stayed in Naples, Garcia certainly wouldn't have coached Napoli.
He believed in Thiago Motta, he saw him as the right continuation of Spalletti. Many problems with Giuntoli in the company would not have occurred.
In Naples last year a particular alchemy was created, but the corporate situation has never been easy. We know De Laurentiis, he is very good at managing business, but he has created many problems in everyday life.
I think many coaches were afraid to come to Naples because they no longer had a figure like Giuntoli behind them to support them in everything. I was in the Napoli youth team when Maradona arrived and I remember that he invited me to his party and called me Flaco”.
Article published on 20 October 2023 - 18:07
