Napoli enter the international break with Max Allegri demanding a sharper response from a side that has collected only seven points from its first five Serie A matches. The coach confronted his players after the draw in Florence, unhappy not only with the result but with the attitude he saw at the Franchi.
Allegri had taken charge in the summer with confidence in the quality of the squad offered to him by president Aurelio De Laurentiis. He remains convinced that Napoli can compete in Italy and make an impact in Europe, despite an unconvincing league opening and the Champions League debut against Arsenal.
Yet the performance against Fiorentina brought his frustrations into clearer view. Napoli conceded six minutes after the restart, and Allegri was particularly dissatisfied with the team’s start to the second half. From the bench, he repeatedly called for more “venom” — a demand for greater ruthlessness and clearer thinking in the penalty area.
The missed opportunity in Florence was costly in mood as well as points. A win would have sent Napoli into the break in a more secure position, but instead they sit ninth in the table. The gap to fourth place is already five points, while the leaders are six ahead, even if the standings remain tightly packed.
Allegri wants a different Napoli after the break
The coach made his disappointment known in public and then addressed the issue directly with the squad behind closed doors. His message was also aimed at what comes next: the return to league action against Frosinone and a sequence of fixtures that will quickly test whether Napoli can recover their direction.
Seven points from 15 represent Napoli’s weakest Serie A start for a decade. The only comparable recent beginning came in 2015-16, when Maurizio Sarri’s side had six points after five rounds.
There was, however, a different feeling around that team. Sarri’s Napoli had already produced a 5-0 home victory over Lazio and showed signs of a growing identity. From the sixth matchday, they won five in succession and eventually finished second. That period laid the foundations for the football that later carried Napoli to 91 points in 2018, narrowly missing the title.
Allegri’s current side has not yet reached the level of clarity he expected. The coach sees a group still some distance from his ideas, and the Florence match reinforced his belief that the players must raise their intensity and competitive edge immediately.
Summer market concerns remain
There is also frustration at the club’s summer business. Allegri had hoped Napoli would add at least two further experienced options: a defender and a high-level forward. Neither arrived.
Napoli explored a move for Gabriel Jesus, but were unable to free the squad place required for the Brazilian. He subsequently joined Barcelona and has already scored twice.
Meanwhile, Lang and Lucca have had opportunities but have not yet made a decisive impact. Lang started at the Franchi but was largely peripheral and reacted badly to being substituted. Lucca played more than half an hour in the second period without providing the spark Napoli needed.
Their situations, along with the wider lack of depth Allegri feels in key areas, will keep the January market in view. Before then, though, the immediate responsibility belongs to Napoli’s players: their coach has made clear that the season cannot continue in the same manner.
