Manna: ‘Napoli not looking for alibis or a negative vortex’

Napoli director Giovanni Manna assures Antonio Conte’s complaints are ‘not alibis,’ but also warns they don’t want to ‘get sucked into a negative vortex’ ahead of facing Inter.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This was the Scudetto showdown last season and could well be again, especially after leaders AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Pisa last night.

It is crisis time for the Partenopei, who lost four of their last seven competitive games, including a 6-2 mauling by PSV Eindhoven midweek.

“When we win or lose, it is always as a team,” Manna told DAZN Italia.

Conte had complained repeatedly that Napoli needed time to find their form after bringing in nine new faces, which was reiterated by Manna.

“The coach said things we’ve been saying since the start of the season, as we needed to change nine players and that is not an alibi. Conte speaks for the good of Napoli, it is only normal that with so many changes, it will take a while to recreate the right alchemy.

“If we add some serious injuries, as Rrahmani only played two games, Buongiorno just returned, we were without seven players against Torino, it makes consistency difficult.

“We are not happy, as we suffered a heavy defeat making mistakes that were not like us. Now we want to get back on track, we’re against an Inter side who are in incredible form, brought in some fresh faces to reinvigorate them, so it’s going to be tough.”

Alex Meret fractured a finger in training, joining Rasmus Hojlund, Stanislav Lobotka, Amir Rrahmani and Romelu Lukaku on the treatment table.

Rather than start Lorenzo Lucca, who was sent off in the Champions League after another misfiring performance, it is David Neres chosen as a False 9.

“These are important absences, as we are missing the spine of the team. If you are out for 10 days, you miss four games now. Again, this is not an alibi, it is just something to be acknowledged. We don’t want to be sucked into a negative vortex that would not be helpful to anyone,” concluded Manna.

“Neres is an alternative, he has quality and pace, the game lasts 90 minutes and changes are important. It is a different tactical solution.”