After the recent buzz about a possible coaching change, Napoli’s brass publicly backed up the current manager with a tweet late on Wednesday: “President Aurelio De Laurentiis, vice-president Edoardo and CEO Andrea Chiavelli have had a meeting with the first-team squad and coaching staff this evening and confirmed their total confidence in coach Rino Gattuso”.
Rumours about contacts with other gaffers had begun to circulate following the losses in Supercoppa against Juventus and versus Verona in League play, the sixth suffered in Serie A thus far, but the management have decided to stick with the ex-Milan boss for the time being.
Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the owner decided to appease the situation after the heavy criticism directed at the team for the recent performances and invited them to react in the upcoming matches. Local newspaper Il Mattino added that the De Laurentiis clarified that the objective for the season is a top four finish, as a Champions League berth is fundamental for the future of the club. The outlet added that also some representatives of the ultras met with Lorenzo Insigne and Gattuso, urging them to return to winning ways. The Partenopei will face Spezia in Coppa Italia’s quarter-finals later today.
Despite yesteday’s events, Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli’s journalist Diego De Luca pointed out that Carlo Ancelotti received a similar vote of confidence two years ago on February 4th, only to be sacked six days later.