Page 31 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Napoli
The devastating double act of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will lead the Partenopei’s quest for a fourth title after last year’s famous and historic success that brought about unforgettable scenes of celebration. Luciano Spalletti led the club from Campania to a first Scudetto in 33 years but left his position as coach shortly afterwards.
Rudi Garcia was a surprise replacement, and the Frenchman inherited a deep squad only weakened by the departure of brilliant centre-back Kim Min-jae who made an eye-catching move to Bayern Munich. Young Brazilian Natan was signed to fill the void in defence while Jens Cajuste arrived
to bolster the midfield. While other clubs lost star players, the reigning champions retained the much sought after Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia as they set their sights on another Serie A championship.
NICKNAME:
Gli Azzurri (The Blues) I Partenopei (The Parthenopeans)
I Ciucciarelli (The Little Donkeys)
MANAGER:
Rudi Garcia
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, Champions
Can Kvicha Kvaratskhelia reproduce his sensational form from 2022-23?
Roma
Despite achieving European success in his two seasons in charge by winning the Europa Conference League and then reaching the final of the Europa League in 2022-23, Jose Mourinho has yet to break through the barrier
of the top six in Serie A with the Giallorossi. Keeping injury-prone game changer Paulo Dybala on the pitch will be essential if the club from the Italian capital are to make any kind of title challenge. Although hampered by financial restrictions, the additions of the mercurial Renato Sanches along with midfielders Houssem Aouar and Leandro Paredes, and defender Evan Ndicka will give Mourinho more options.
Centre-back Roger Ibanez and midfielder Nemanja Matic were the only high-profile departures, leaving for Al-Ahli and Rennes respectively.
NICKNAME:
I Giallorossi (The Yellow and Reds), La Lupa (The She-Wolf), La Magica (The Magic One), Capitolini (Capitoline), Lupetti (Little Cubs), Lupi (Wolves)
MANAGER:
José Mourinho
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 6th
Roma need Paulo Dybala to stay fit if they are to finish in
the top six
Salernitana
Survival will be the sole focus for much travelled coach Paulo Sousa as I Granata feature in Italy’s premier division for the third season in a row. Outstanding Senegal striker Boulaye Dia almost single-handedly kept the Salerno club in Serie A as he struck 16 times last term, and once again could prove to be the difference between staying up and going down. Dia, who was the third highest goalscorer in the league, will be the go-to man for Sousa along with evergreen former Italy international Antonio Candreva. Mexican veteran Guillermo Ochoa also performed heroics in goal during
the latter part of the previous campaign but will face competition this time around from new French shot-stopper Benoit Costil.
NICKNAME:
I Granata (The Garnets)
MANAGER:
Paulo Sousa
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Serie A, 15th
Senegal striker Boulaye Dia is crucial to Salernitana’s hopes of survival
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 31
DUGOUT DUEL
SERIE A IS SO FULL OF CHARACTERS AMONG ITS ROSTER OF HEAD COACHES, SO IT ALL PROMISES TO BE EVENTFUL ON THE TOUCHLINE. STEPHEN KASIEWICZ LOOKS AT SOME OF THE PROTAGONISTS
The Serie A coaching carousel almost ground to a halt as only four clubs made changes for 2023-24. Apart from defending champions Napoli where Luciano Spalletti stepped down voluntarily, all of Italy’s big guns kept faith with the same tacticians as last year.
The Partenopei’s shock appointment of ex- Roma coach Rudi Garcia to replace Spalletti received a lukewarm welcome. Relieved of his duties by Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in April, the Frenchman was not the high-profile appointment Napoli fans anticipated. President Aurelio De Laurentiis is known
for his unconventional choices and Garcia’s preference for playing a 4-3-3 formation - which Spalletti used to devastating effect
as Napoli sauntered to the title - apparently influenced his decision. Garcia takes on the considerable challenge of following in his predecessor’s footsteps by leading the Gli Azzurri back to the top of the table.
Simone Inzaghi has another difficult undertaking at Inter as the club sold influential goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfield
general Marcelo Brozovic. New additions Yann Sommer, Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram add depth to a talented squad which Inzaghi guided to third last term.
As for rivals Milan, the sale of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali partially funded a rebuild
for Stefano Pioli. How the Rossoneri coach integrates the new additions - which include Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders - will determine whether they can improve on last year’s fourth place finish.
Lazio were great to watch under Maurizio
Sarri as they surged to second last season but will miss midfield leader Sergej Milinkovic- Savic, but a repeat performance looks a tall order despite the addition of skilful Japanese international Daichi Kamada. Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus and Roma’s Jose Mourinho were heavily criticised for their tactics and playing style yet expect both clubs to contend for the top six again.
Young tacticians Thiago Motta (Bologna), Raffaele Palladino (Monza), Alessio Dionisi (Sassuolo) and Paolo Zanetti (Empoli) all made their mark last term and will aim to enhance their growing reputations, while for several coaches staying in the league will be an achievement in itself.
Marco Baroni swapped Lecce for Hellas Verona with Roberto D’Aversa taking charge at the Stadio Via del mare. Alberto Gilardino at Genoa and Eusebio Di Francesco at Frosinone will look to avoid an immediate return to
Serie B while Paulo Sousa has the challenging assignment of keeping Salernitana in the top- flight.