Insigne: ‘Napoli the anti-Juventus’

By Football Italia staff

Lorenzo Insigne believes Napoli will be Juventus’ main challengers this season as “Carlo Ancelotti is our best signing”.

The Partenopei got 91 points last season, but even that wasn’t enough to stop the Bianconeri, who have now signed Cristiano Ronaldo.

“We carry it with us, along with the desire to do better, Insigne told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Beyond the controversy, we need to improve the way we manage the difficult moments of the season. That means the team, the club and the fans - all of us together.

“CR7? Welcome to him, but I’m curious to see how he’ll adapt to our league. He won’t be able to win games by himself.

“Personally I prefer [Lionel] Messi for what he represents for football, but the talent of the Portuguese is not in question. If he’s won five Ballons d’Or it means something.

“Italian defences are very strong though, even if he proved against Juventus that he’s a phenomenon. In a longer tournament we’ll see…

“Maybe Ronaldo will save himself to aim for the Champions League, which is his big objective. Then in the Champions League Last 16 two years ago he didn’t score against us. We hope to repeat that.

“I’m convinced that we’ll succeed with Ancelotti, his numbers in the Champions League are fabulous.

“His approach to Napoli has been excellent and he transmits serenity to the whole environment.

“He’s very simple in his gestures, he showers with us and takes advantage of every moment in the dressing room or around the table to talk, to form the group.

“For example, to help the new ones integrate he forced them to get on a chair and sing next to him, to share everything. Even the President [Aurelio De Laurentiis] has been more serene since he’s been here.

“Are we still Juve’s main challengers? Yes, because as the President says Ancelotti is our best signing. Don’t forget that this is a very strong group that has already done well.

“The club and the Coach will know where and how to reinforce this team, the only regret is that in doing so people forget the good things done over the past few years.”

It was then put to Insigne that he and his teammates seem to have moved on from Maurizio Sarri very quickly...

"What we acheived thanks to him over the past three years remains indelible.

"We can only thank him for what he taught us about football. The timing and the movement he gave us on the pitch remain excellent.

"Now Ancelotti has been able to appreciate that and combine it with his great experience. In some ways, though with some distinctions, we're getting similar sensations to when we went from [Walter] Mazzarri to [Rafa] Benitez."

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