Napoli, midfield shake-up: McTominay set to be Conte’s new midfield anchor | OneFootball

The season for Napoli has so far been marked by one constant: managing the injury crisis. Coach Antonio Conte has been repeatedly forced to deal with the absence of some of his best and most representative players. A true "curse" that, although partially resolved, continues to claim victims: the latest in chronological order is Miguel Gutierrez, who has been sidelined and will be unavailable for the upcoming crucial Champions League match against Qarabag.

Napoli, Conte finds Anguissa's heir: McTominay surprises everyone

However, as highlighted by AreaNapoli, among the absences, the one that has created the most significant tactical headache is undoubtedly that of Frank Zambo Anguissa. And here emerges a fundamental premise: within Napoli's squad—and perhaps this can be extended to almost all Serie A clubs—there is no player with technical-tactical characteristics comparable to those of the Cameroonian international. His mix of physicality, pace, and ability to break up play combined with an uncommon skill in carrying the ball makes him an irreplaceable element.

Many have tried to fill the void left by Anguissa. Among them was Elmas, who, despite being a valuable utility player deployed in almost every position on the field, proved to be structurally too different from the former Fulham player to be considered a worthy substitute. The real surprise, and perhaps the most effective temporary solution found by Conte, emerged in the recent league match against Atalanta. On that occasion, it was Scott McTominay who took on, in his own way, the work that usually falls to the Cameroonian in the non-possession phase. The Scotsman performed admirably, offering a performance above expectations in the role of shield and disruptor.

Andrea Alati

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