Everything is Just Fine at Napoli! Seriously. You — Stop Staring!
By: Martha | January 21st, 2008
Despite the fact that Napoli were just promoted, are solidly in the middle of the table, and have played some truly spectacular football this season, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has been all over coach Edy Reja, particularly lately. When Napoli went out of the Coppa Italia against relegation-threatened Lazio last week, De Laurentiis harshly criticize Reja’s approach, saying “We really wanted to win partly because the Coppa Italia can get you into Europe. But evidently someone didn’t see it in the same way. Certainly if you want to lose a game you would play like Napoli did tonight. … The fact is that if we had played properly from the start it would have been different.” Not exactly words to make a coach go out and extend his rent, are they?
Then, after yesterday’s insane match with Lazio, which Napoli only drew because of a late, late, late deflected goal by Marek Hamsik (highlights here, Marco Ballota was absolutely unconscious), Reja and De Laurentiis reportedly had a “spectacular row” in the changing room, in front of the players and anyone else who happened by, a group that apparently included several members of the press. There were immediately reports that Reja had resigned, and would be replaced by either Bruno Giordano or Alberto Zaccheroni, both of whom were (are?) apparently already waiting in the wings.
By morning, though, both men had assured the world that it was all good, Reja through the team’s press agent, and De Laurentiis via a statement on the club’s website (because he has the login info, while Reja doesn’t). According to the president, it wasn’t a spectacular row, merely a “lively discussion,” which grew out of “a lot of built-up tension in the air.” But he spoke with Reja this morning, and they’ve “mutually confirmed … the esteem and friendship that are the foundation of a solid working relationship … which … I am sure … will continue again in the future.” Yes, that’s right: It’s a vote of confidence. If Napoli don’t crush Cagliari next weekend, Reja’s doomed.
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Comments
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Well I’m glad Reja has the owner’s confidence…cause I’m pretty sure no one else around here has confidence in him.
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Italy
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Reja…I’ve never seen a guy get the results he has and still come under a ton of criticism. All of it deserved. All of it. His substitutions are a mess… his formations are terribly predictable, easy to defend and lack any type of flexibility. Just look at the Milan game for any doubt. His substitutions were Capparella and Montervino. The only clearer signal that he had given up on getting a result were if he would’ve taken Iezzo out and played the second half without a keeper. What an ass.
Posted from
United States
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