Napoli coach reveals one thing missing from Osimhen's game in win against Ajax

Published: October 12, 2022

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti pinpointed the one thing he noticed was missing from Victor Osimhen's game during his side's 4-2 win over Ajax Amsterdam in Wednesday evening's clash at the Diego Maradona Stadium.

Napoli extended their club record run to nine successive wins in all competitions after the victory against the Dutch champions and are into the last sixteen of the UEFA Champions League.

A minute after Davy Klaassen halved the deficit with a header after he was found by Calvin Bassey, Spalletti's response was to draft in Osimhen as a replacement for Giacomo Raspadori.

The Nigeria international hadn't played since suffering a thigh injury in the first half of the win against Liverpool exactly five weeks ago.

In the final minute of normal time, Osimhen made a goalscoring return in his comeback game, picking the pocket of Daley Blind and with the goalkeeper leaving the goal unguarded , he had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net but was cautioned for his celebration.

Spalletti believes that his number 9 did not help the team defensively when they were without the ball.

In quotes relayed by Corriere dello Sport, Spalletti said on Osimhen's performance : "With Victor's entry we dribbled less than when Raspadori was there, but it was necessary.

"Osimhen is a bit of a big head, he went offside twice and didn't help the team in the non-possession phase, but probably because he does not have the right condition yet ."

Napoli have qualified for the knockout rounds of the Champions League with two games to spare for the first time in their history, scoring seventeen goals and conceded four.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : uefa.com

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