In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Napoli player Giaccherini gave his thoughts on current Napoli boss Conte and the team's future prospects.
Giaccherini firstly affirmed Conte's coaching ability, believing that he is currently the only coach capable of leading Napoli to narrow the gap with Inter Milan. He emphasized that although Inter Milan is still strong, Napoli is fully capable of competing for the Serie A title under Conte's leadership. However, Giaccherini also pointed out that although Conte can do a lot for the team, he also needs the full cooperation and support of the players.
Speaking about Napoli's squad, Giaccherini believes that the team's starting eleven is already highly competitive, but that some reinforcements are needed in order to reach the same level of squad thickness as Inter. He emphasized that the coach has done his job well, but the completeness and depth of the squad is crucial for the team's long-term development.
Giaccherini answered in the affirmative as to whether Conte can raise the level of players across the team. He said that when working with Conte, the players will pay more attention to details and keep pushing their limits. Conte will provide valuable advice to the players in terms of technique, individual ability and communication. At the same time, he also pointed out that even players who don't get much playing time need to listen to Conte's guidance as it is crucial for their growth and progress.
Speaking about his personal preferences, Giaccherini said that he prefers his current team's center forward Osmeen. He believes that Osmeen's style of play is a rarity in European football and that his technique and ability are impressive. Though he also admitted that Lukaku was excellent when he worked with Conte, today he prefers Osmeen at the heart of the team.
