Ruud Krol, the former Napoli defender, hopes the recent Supercoppa victory will serve as a vital springboard for their league campaign. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Krol discussed the team`s success in Saudi Arabia, which saw them lift a trophy shortly after securing the Scudetto last season. He stressed that these victories demand intense focus from an already strong squad.
While acknowledging that continuous success can sometimes lead to a feeling of satisfaction among players, Krol quickly dismissed the possibility of complacency gripping the team under the current manager.
“Napoli is beautiful to watch. Now there is the risk of feeling content for a moment, even if, with Conte, I find it highly improbable that such a thing could happen.”
Regarding the ongoing battle for the Scudetto, the Dutchman maintains that the Neapolitan side remains the primary favorite. He believes the Azzurri are marginally ahead of Inter, pointing out that Inter occasionally drops points. Milan, meanwhile, does not fully convince him and lags behind the top two. However, Krol cautioned that the Rossoneri should not be entirely dismissed.
He admitted that Milan still possesses potential gaps in their squad, yet they could still represent a surprise threat in the league: “It wouldn`t even seem like the most appropriate term [surprise], but they exist and must be feared,” he added.
Finally, Krol expressed strong confidence in the eventual impact of forward Noa Lang, asserting that Conte will not wait long for the player to fully explode onto the scene. He believes the player simply needs time to adjust to his new environment.
Krol concluded with high praise for Lang’s abilities:
“I know what he is capable of, having followed him at Ajax and PSV. We have seen little of him so far, but he has an eye for goal, finds assists, and is both decisive and knows how to become decisive.”
Mark Thompson
