Napoli unexpectedly lost to Empoli with a score of 0-1, a result that was quite surprising to Serie A fans. After all, there is a clear gap between the strengths of the two teams. Despite Napoli's successful title defense this season, their actual performance has not been as good as expected. New coach Rudi Garcia's team training with superstars and his in-game resilience are far from his predecessor Spalletti. Nonetheless, they deserve to be able to dominate the matchups.
At the very least, we should have been able to suppress our opponents' offense and stay ahead most of the time. However, the reality was the opposite of what was imagined. Coach Rudy Garcia was under tremendous pressure. Previously, his relationship with many stars was strained and he was even pushed to the brink of dismissal. This time, the situation was even more severe.
The Italian media is reporting that former Evergrande coach, Carlo Cannavaro, a world-class soccer player, is following the Napoli game from the stands with the intention of sending a "new message" through the media. What exactly is this message? Apparently, he intends to continue his coaching career, especially to qualify for the Serie A team. Cannavaro has been out of work for a long time, so this move seems quite proactive and surprising. However, the move does not seem to have attracted much attention. Comments and reactions from the Napoli hierarchy suggest that Cannavaro's move is slightly "mercurial". Although Rudi Garcia is in danger of being fired, Napoli president De Laurentiis has been very critical of him and will not be inviting Cannavaro to stay in charge.
After all, De Laurentiis has already made one mistake with his partnership choices. He can't correct one mistake with another, which is extremely bad for the team. Stars such as Kvaratskhelya and Osmeen are already thinking of leaving the team. As president, he must stabilize the team quickly.
The German coach said bluntly that "Cannavaro is not a professional coach". They need a reliable man to lead the team out of the woods, which is a direct blow to Cannavaro's personal reputation and confidence. Indeed, since his retirement in 2012, he has not had an extensive resume. Experience in Asia (Evergrande, Riyadh, Quanjian and the national soccer team) hardly guarantees actual performance. It looks a bit bleak compared to his illustrious career resume.
This does not bode well for his dream of qualifying as a coach in the local game. Cannavaro aspires to be a coach, but the road is bumpy. The German-born coach's comments are likely to spread to many big names. Cannavaro has a long way to go before he can advance to the rank of a cardinal.
