NAPOLI manager Luciano Spalletti has admitted that Victor Osimhen will be a big miss in tonight’s Serie A clash against AC Milan, but he expects the Nigeria striker’s replacement to get the job done.
Osimhen returned to Italy from international duty with a muscle injury that has ruled him out of tonight’s fixture at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, with Spalletti confirming that Giovanni Simeone will take his place.
“Obviously, Osimhen’s absence does weigh on us, there’s no point beating around the bush,” Spalletti said during his pre-match his press conference yesterday.
“However, when Victor has been out this season, the team was able to get by pretty well. Everyone gives something more and the difference is also made by players like Cholito Simeone, who knows what he’s doing, knows you have to play with the head as well as the feet in this sport.
“When someone is intelligent, he can achieve important results even with only small chunks on the field. Cholito isn’t as quick as Osimhen, but he is very good in the air and at keeping the ball up with his back to goal, dialoguing with his teammates.
“He deserved more, the only reason he hasn’t played more is because Osimhen’s ahead of him.”
Osimhen is Napoli’s top scorer with 25 goals from 29 appearances in all competitions but the runaway Serie A leaders have won all seven competitive matches played this season without the Super Eagles striker.
“This is a squad that can substitute any individual and the players have proved that every time we needed them to step up,” Spalletti added.
“This is a match where anything could happen and the points are worth double, as we are against the reigning champions of Italy who just knocked Tottenham out of the Champions League.
“Milan can defend and then counter with two or three players at remarkable speed with a well-placed vertical pass, even from their goalkeeper. Their pressing game forces you to play the ball quicker.”
Napoli and Milan will face each other three times in less than three weeks in two different competitions, as they also go head to head in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on April 12 and April 18.
Spalletti expects Osimhen to be back for the Champions League quarter-finals, a stage Napoli have reached for the first time in their history.
“I am curious to see if this match will affect the next two in the Champions League, but I do think the spotlight of Europe changes your outfit and everyone can find a little extra,” the Italian coach noted.
“From what the medical staff tell me, I’m fairly certain Osimhen will be available for the quarter-finals.”
Napoli are 19 points clear at the top of the Serie A table and on course for their first Scudetto in 33 years, but Spalletti insists there is still a race for the title.
“Seeing flags flying with the Scudetto symbol on fills us with joy, but it is all an illusion. We are telling a tale that has not yet been written, we mustn’t lose sight of what still needs to be done. Only superficial people look to the future, we are not in that category,” he warned.
