Gazzetta: Napoli seek return to form against Atalanta | OneFootball

Continuing with the 4-3-3: Neres returns to the left

Where were we? Bologna, November 9, 2025, around five o'clock on a Sunday of a day that would become dreadful, "among the dead" who do not accompany each other, "little gardens" cultivated for personal reasons, and the disjointed sense of ruins that were not even visible at least two hours before "that" match began. Or maybe it will be Saturday, October 25, 2025, the gentle time of a smile, Inter decisively shifted, and the recognition and pride «for those true men». There is a thread of light in this microcosm that has remained disoriented, has gone through a week inside a poisoned bubble, has carried with it the echo of Antonio Conte's outburst, has clung to De Laurentiis's composed expression (“between me and Conte there has always been a special harmony that unites certain men”), has felt a bit shaken by breezes of who knows how slanderous about alleged intentions and real underground movements, and then discovered it was over, inhaling and exhaling, this storm: at 3 PM it starts again, and who knows how, certainly not pretending nothing happened, because something might have remained.

There is a mission in this Napoli that must face an unusual situation, from the height of a third place two points from the first in the league and with qualification for the Champions League playoffs not being utopia: normalize. And that means letting Conte's return belong to the natural routine of a football team that reappears in itself after a weekend break and sees its coach again, fresh from an unusual, powerful, and mighty outburst: Giovanni Manna, the sporting director, will be there, as always, and Aurelio De Laurentiis has no unusual trips on his agenda.

Because De Laurentiis and Conte, Manna and Conte, have clearly talked at length, in inevitably long phone calls, necessary to confront and analyze the difficulties of a team that has stopped scoring in the last three matches and thus winning. However, the problems have not been lacking, indeed they have increased: Conte will return and will also see Anguissa confined to therapy, one less pillar to "go to war with players who follow me and deserve gratitude".

And searching here and there, in a squad that is then weakened by injuries but certainly not limited, something is found: the trident reappears, in its brilliance, it is refined, it has the feel of avant-garde football, it represents a head of the Napoli maison that has contributed to enriching history: it was there in the years when Spalletti reached the miracle-scudetto and in Conte's masterpiece, for the fourth title. It is still there, after all, this team is born to be in the 4-3-3, then set aside to not give up one of the Fab Four. In defense, no mistakes are made, now that Olivera will return close to the match with Atalanta and Spinazzola will have to immerse himself in his role: from left to right, it can be imagined that Gutierrez will be asked to support the exits and diagonals and the rest, well, doesn't flinch, with Buongiorno, Rrahmani, and Di Lorenzo as guardians of Milinkovic-Savic. In the middle, without Anguissa and De Bruyne, it's a different football, but Lobotka is always himself, knows the timing to direct the attack and has the wisdom to act as a breakwater. Around, on one side Elmas, who knows how to do various things but much more as a mezzala, and McTominay, who can reclaim his role, the one in which he exalted his nature, first at Manchester United and then as Mvp of a sunny season. It's up front that a book reopens to previous pages: the first Neres often went to the left; and now, if desired, he is given back the wing, he will have to ensure the balance that on the other side is offered by Politano and then dialogue with Hojlund, who is different from Big Rom, loves to stretch, go into the depths. Not the atmospheric ones of this gloomy week, full of ulterior motives.

Carlo Gioia

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.