Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has again placed his confidence in Massimiliano Allegri, framing the coach’s work as the foundation of a season that still has important turns ahead. After the win over Frosinone, the club’s owner spoke before Napoli’s Champions League meeting with Villarreal and said he had never questioned the man in charge.
De Laurentiis said he trusts Napoli’s players to deliver in the European fixture, while making clear that Allegri’s record leaves little room for premature verdicts. “How can you judge someone who has won so much?” he said.
Quick facts
- De Laurentiis spoke following Napoli’s victory against Frosinone.
- Napoli were preparing to face Villarreal in the Champions League.
- The president praised Allegri’s decision to return to a three-man defence against Frosinone.
- He also backed Giovanni Malagò amid discussion of the FIGC’s administration.
- De Laurentiis said Serie A should put Malagò forward again.
Speaking at the CONI Gold Collars awards ceremony, De Laurentiis pointed to the defensive change made in the match against Alvini’s Frosinone as a meaningful detail. Napoli used a back three, a system he believes gives Allegri greater assurance.
“I have stayed quiet and have not offered judgements,” De Laurentiis said. “He went back to three at the back, clearly because it is a shape that makes him feel secure, and we won.”
The comments offer a clear public endorsement at a point when Napoli are balancing domestic demands with the Champions League. For De Laurentiis, the Frosinone result was not simply three points; it was evidence that the coach had found a setup capable of giving the side stability.
Support for Malagò and concern over Italian football
De Laurentiis also addressed the uncertainty around Italian football’s governance and the FIGC’s commissioner-led situation. He argued that Malagò should not be under scrutiny and said Serie A should support his candidacy once more.
“Giovanni should never be questioned,” De Laurentiis said. “Serie A will nominate him again; otherwise it would be a step backwards.”
The Napoli president described Malagò as an entrepreneur, contrasting that role with what he called political figures who take rather than build. His criticism extended to the wider direction of Italian football.
Asked whether the game in Italy can change, De Laurentiis offered a blunt warning: “Let us hope so, otherwise football will keep going downhill.”
