Naples, Mazzocchi: "We want to write history, but there are still some pages missing"

Naples, 8 May 2025 - The regular starters, in turn divided between strong and functional elements and real immovable pieces capable of deciding matches if not even entire championships, but also the so-called second lines, those elements often underestimated that instead prove to be very important over the course of a season, between moments in which it is necessary to replace the absent big player of the moment or 'simple' contribution provided during the work during the week: in the second category at home Napoli it is to be annexed Pasquale Mazzocchi, the son of the city who dreams of crowning his beloved club with the scudetto before, at least according to the transfer market radio, risking flying elsewhere in the summer. Premature speeches: first, the current year must be closed in the best possible way, as underlined this afternoon to the microphones of Radio Crc.

The strength of the group

The first of the three remaining obstacles on the horizon is called Genoa, then followed by Parma e Cagliari, but before that the Azzurri had seen it (even badly) at the home of Lecce, according to many a hard-fought victory but also perhaps already decisive in the championship games. "I think that in every game you can do something more. We knew we were going to face a difficult match and so, from the first minutes, we tried to close them in their own half of the field. There obviously, in their very hot stadium, an important atmosphere was also created in their favor, and so with all our strength we tried to regroup and bring home the result". Mission accomplished thanks to a beautiful and mocking free kick by James Raspadori, the man of providence when the tricolour looms on the horizon, as it has been on several occasions this year Scott McTominay, which curiously also to the Street of the Sea he had a hand in it with a dummy that ended up deceiving first the yellow and red barrier and then the goalkeeper Wladimir Falcone: for the Scotsman, taken at the end of the summer transfer window, a devastating impact on the pitch but also, apparently, off it and in the dressing room, in which the same Mazzocchi plays a much more important role than it might appear from the outside. "When players come here from other countries, even far away, as a Neapolitan I always try to make them feel at home, as any Neapolitan would do with a foreigner. Every day I try to make them feel part of this project and this nickname was born ('McFratm', ed.) that he liked". Notes of color from a united locker room that is a distant relative of the one from a year ago that seemed like a powder keg. "I think that each of us this year has always been ready to face difficulties. My father always told me that if you can't be a starter, you have to try to be the best reserve. That's what each of us is trying to do". Including Breakers, the man with the most important goals from the bench (and not only, as in Lecce). "It's useless to talk about him: he has important qualities and he shows it every time". Mazzocchi he then returns with pleasure to the topic of the group, of which he is evidently a silent but important piece. "In the stories of the teams that have won, there is always a strong group behind them: a group made up of many players, not only the starters, but people who give their all even during training, to increase the intensity and best prepare those who start from the first minute on Sunday".

Towards Genoa

The full-back speaks with his own voice, but it seems like we can hear him Antonio Conte, the leader of the aforementioned group who often, also leveraging his past background, leverages these two keys: the collective and the desire to win, two elements that in a few weeks could come together arm in arm. "This year we are really lucky to work with the coach, because he is expanding our wealth of experience. Every day I try to learn a new movement and I feel like I have grown a lot thanks to him". Merits of Tale but also of a player who has always made versatility his best weapon, despite having legitimate preferences. "For what are my characteristics, between full-back and fifth I prefer the latter role, but for the team I am available for everything". The same 'everything' that will have to give its entirety Napoli to close the championship in glory, taking the so-called last three steps: we will start on Sunday evening from Genoa, expected in a Maradona once again packed and, at least in theory, not to play the role of an extra. "I think that every team that comes here at this time would like to make the move of the year, but we will have to be prepared, together with our fans who will give us a big hand, and try to bring home a result that would be very useful to us". Not only the rossoblù of Patrick Vieira, one of them with a past of his own in the rival Inter: at this point in the season, the same Napoli could become his own enemy if anxiety and pressure prevail. "We are living this situation with the right serenity, but with the awareness that we are playing for something important and unique. The coach - continues Mazzocchi - is trying in every way to make us understand that these will not be easy matches. On paper for a fan they may seem simple matches, but we also saw in Lecce that it is not like that. Every day we try to regroup and stay focused in the right way and have all the energy necessary to face these matches". The same Inter which in the meantime is making sparks in Champions League, a tournament in which the final will be played against the Paris Saint-Germain. "We congratulate the Nerazzurri, because they are playing a great Champions League and we wish them good luck for the final. We, however, must think about our objective that we have very clear in mind. As the coach said, we must try to write this story, but this book is not finished yet: there are some pages missing, the most important ones, and we will try to give our all until the end".

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