Spalletti: Napoli game vital for momentum

Luciano Spalletti believes Saturday's visit to Napoli will be a vital match for both sides - as they look to continue to build momentum at the top of Serie A.

The game sees last season's second and third-placed finishers face off, two arch-rivals looking to build an advantage at an early stage of the season.

Napoli's preparations have been disrupted by the news that striker Arkadiusz Milik will miss the game after suffering a serious injury, but Spalletti insists the contest will still be extremely tough for the Giallorossi.

“There’s no doubt that Milik is a very good player," Spalletti said. "But looking at the game, Napoli won’t be losing their main strength.

"When Manolo Gabbiadini has played, he’s always done what’s asked of him, with his play and his goals. The team has faith in him and they play with that same trust as when they have other players available.

"Also, I’ve never tended to take that mindset when I’ve been missing a player, so I don’t think it’s easier to play against a team when they are missing someone.”

Will this game against Napoli be a breakthrough for your side?

“It’s a big game. Clearly it won’t decide which team will finish higher in the table, but it could mean a lot in terms of momentum and the atmosphere [around the teams]. Roma and Napoli are two sides that can be pushed on by their fans, with their passion and how much they care. The results of the respective teams can really affect the mood in the cities. It’s a tough and finely-balanced game, we absolutely have to be ready for it.”

In the game against Inter, Roma were great going forward but less so at the back. How can you find a balance?

“We’ve not done well enough to prevent the goals we’ve conceded in different games. We need a balance and I believe it’s in the defensive part of the pitch that we need improvements. We need to make steps forward as soon as possible, because we’ve already dropped important points.”

What do you see happening with Francesco Totti when he stops playing?

“At the moment I see him as a footballer, that’s the job he needs to do and do well. By looking too far ahead, it might take away from what he can still bring to the team. He’s a player now, and that’s what he needs to concentrate on. But surely there is an outlet for him to continue in this sphere, because he loves that contact with the dressing room, the pitch, the turf. Now that people are saying this phase of his life is drawing to a close, he’s all the more attached to it. He’s more involved and you can see the way he uses his time, to make sure he has trained well.

"As for his future, that’s something he needs to decide for himself, but he needs to be absolutely convinced that, whatever he does, he can do it with quality. That’s how he’s been as a player. He needs to offer that same level of quality. Now and moving forward, Roma need to win and that’s a full-time job.”