Stellini begs Napoli after new injuries: ‘We need more players’

After new injuries to Matteo Politano and Amir Rrahmani, Antonio Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini begged Napoli. ‘We need more players. If some aren’t used, there is a reason…’

The Partenopei were feeling the pressure after three consecutive stalemates against Verona, Inter and Parma, which saw them slide down the table and further away from the leaders.

Stanislav Lobotka’s early goal proved enough to break down Sassuolo, the midfielder’s first goal in over three years, but it came at a cost.

Eljif Elmas went off feeling dizzy, followed more worryingly by both Rrahmani and Politano with muscular problems, the latter needing to stay on during stoppages as the substitution slots had been used up.

“Elmas felt dizzy, it was probably down to flu symptoms, so it wasn’t an injury, but we’ll have evaluations for Politano and Rrahmani over the next few days,” Conte’s assistant Stellini told DAZN Italia.

“We feel both happy at the victory, thanks to a team that continues to play in a difficult situation, but also we don’t know how much longer we can keep this going. We don’t have many players left and the fixture list is packed.

“I think Napoli are the only team with nine games to be played in January. The fixture list was drawn up badly, it’s not possible that with the Supercoppa Italiana it became nine games in 28 days.”

Coach Conte was again forced to watch from the stands, as he completes the two-game touchline ban for dissent during the 2-2 draw with Inter.

“The players are mentally on their toes, they suffer, battle and put in good performances. Just on a purely physical level, it’s tough to play with just 72 hours between games.”

Napoli have seen squad rotation options reduced to a minimum by the injury crisis, which ruled out David Neres, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour and Alex Meret.

There was a rare change to the starting XI this evening, as youth academy product Antonio Vergara got his first start, the day after his 23rd birthday.

“We don’t have many players, so we need to discuss this with the club, certainly,” added Stellini, who seemed to be channelling Conte’s thoughts.

“We probably need new players straight away.”

Does that mean they could sell some of the players who don’t get any time even during this crisis?

“Probably, yes, if some players aren’t used, then there’s a reason for that… We need more to bolster the numbers, otherwise we have to dip into the youth academy.

“We’ve got enough in defence, but in midfield and attack, we just aren’t rotating at all. We’re waiting for the return of David Neres soon, but we’re not sure when the others will be back.

“We need players, the coach and the club will evaluate it. There is anxiety because there are so many matches. It’s a matter purely of numbers, not of choices to be made. Something has to be done, it is planned.

“We know the January transfer window isn’t easy to work in, but there are some interventions that have to be made.”

There are some very big games coming up next week, as they risk Champions League elimination without a win away to FC Copenhagen, then go head-to-head with Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus in Serie A.