De Laurentiis explains decision to sack Mazzarri and hire Calzona before Barcelona game

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis admits it was ‘painful’ to sack Walter Mazzarri, however followers ‘want one thing extra’ and Francesco Calzona already ‘is aware of 80% of the squad.’

Napoli employed Calzona on Monday night, barely 24 hours earlier than a Champions League Spherical of 16 tie in opposition to Barcelona on the Stadio Maradona.

A former assistant to Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti at Napoli, Calzona has signed a four-month contract with the defending Serie A champions and can stay accountable for the Slovakia nationwide group.

He’s Napoli’s third coach this season after Rudi Garcia and Mazzarri.

“Walter Mazzarri is a pal of the De Laurentiis household and, above all, he’s a pal of Napoli,” De Laurentiis told Sky Sport Italia on Monday night time.

“It’s at all times painful to sack a pal and I’ve thanked him. He was accessible to return right here once we have been struggling, however we should contemplate that Napoli and Napoli followers at all times want one thing extra, which we are attempting to present them with Calzona.”

Why did he rent him?

“He labored with Sarri and Spalletti and already is aware of 80% of our gamers,” ADL replied.

“Let’s welcome Calzona and attempt to assist him with no disputes. Getting ready for a tricky sport in 24 hours will likely be very tough.

“He’ll come right here with all his assistants tomorrow morning [Tuesday] and we’ll chat for a very long time. Then we’ll go to Castel Volturno the place I’ll introduce him to the group even when he is aware of many gamers.”

The defending champions host Barcelona within the first leg of the Champions League Spherical of 16 on Tuesday so Calzona’s pre-match press convention will even be his first assembly with the media as the brand new Napoli coach.

“Everybody says Barcelona just isn’t the identical group they was once, however I feel they nonetheless have huge gamers and they’re at all times Barcelona,” argued ADL.

“We’ll go to the stadium after [the training session] as a result of we have to do that UEFA press convention.

“We’d want a while to deal with critical issues of soccer life and, proper now, put together for the sport with as a lot time as potential.”

De Laurentiis confirmed Napoli legend Hamsik gained’t be a part of Calzona’s workers on the Stadio Maradona.

“I spoke to him yesterday. He was intrigued by the thought of returning to work for the group that he loves. He gave me a lot satisfaction. He stayed till the top, rejecting Milan and Juventus. He was a legend,” the Partenopei president concluded.