It appears that many teams struggle to replicate their success in the following season, and Napoli is no exception. The Italian side created history last season by clinching the Serie A title for the first time since 1990.
However, in the current season, Napoli’s performance has been subpar, as they currently reside in the 9th position in the Serie A league table. Star players like Victor Osimhen are close to leaving, and their manager is also close to being sacked.
Napoli reportedly considering sacking Walter Mazzarri
Napoli’s season took a downturn from the beginning with the appointment of Rudi Garcia as the manager, succeeding Luciano Spalletti. The team, which had secured the league title in the previous season, faced unmet expectations under Garcia, resulting in only 8 victories before his dismissal in November.
Walter Mazzarri was brought in as his replacement with hopes of salvaging the season, but his performance has been equally disappointing. With just 5 wins in 16 games, Napoli finds itself in a ninth-place position. In their recent match against Genoa, they had to score a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw.
šØšµ šššššššš | Napoli is seriously considering changing their coach again.
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 18, 2024
Walter Mazzarri may be sacked before the UCL match against Barcelona. Hours of reflection, reports @MatteMoretto. pic.twitter.com/rSbKbYwPLE
Reports from Italy are now suggesting that the club is considering sacking Walter right before the next game, which is a crucial first leg fixture of the UCL Round of 16 round against FC Barcelona. New manager candidates are recently sacked Roma boss Jose Mourinho and Slovakian national team coach Francesco Calzona.
Napoli’s form this season
Napoli has experienced a challenging season, winning only 10 Serie A games and suffering 8 losses, a significant decline from the previous season. While they advanced from the UCL group stage, they face a tough challenge against Barcelona in the next round.
The team missed opportunities for silverware, losing the Supercoppa Italiana final to Inter Milan and being eliminated from the Coppa Italia in the Round of 16. Key players like Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have struggled to deliver their best performances.
Napoli now face Barcelona in the UCL Round of 16 first leg fixture on Wednesday, and will hope for a win. It remains to be seen whether they sack their coach before the match or not.
