Naples, Kvaratskhelia ko: Conte studies the alternatives

Naples, 10 December 2024 - The defeat in the championship against Lazio, the second in three days, has left behind several slags. From the controversy for having previously snubbed the commitment of Coppa Italia in first place temporarily slipped away: the management of the double weekly commitment by Antonio Conte it did not convince, just as they convinced even less the statements of Aurelio De Laurentiis, which had downgraded the elimination to the round of 16, the fourth in a row, as a simple 'training'. All to preserve the first team in view Serie A. Almost like a twist of fate, or simply a sort of Dantean retaliation applied to football, it happens that then at Napoli everything goes wrong. After the KO in Coppa Italia, relieved by the heavy turnover carried out by Tale (and endorsed by De Laurentiis) the championship double arrives at Maradona which costs the top of the rankings but also public derision for what happened before, after and during the raceOlympic. Is that it? Not at all. The last 'souvenir' left from the match against Lazio, the second, it is the injury that occurred to Khvisha Kvaratskhelia, the ace who will remain in the pits right at this far from happy moment.  

Kvaratskhelia's condition and recovery time

  Instrumental tests performed on the Georgian have highlighted a low-grade lesion of the collateral ligament of the right knee. Harsh words, when talking about problems with the most delicate joint for footballers, which correspond to recovery times that in theory are not so alarming. For the moment the Neapolitan club has not committed itself, speaking only of the beginning of the rehabilitation process for the number 77, who will obviously be out of action for the next match, the one againstUdinese. In the best case scenario, even the next match against Genoa seems to be at high risk, to the point that the 2024 di Fourth it could already be over. In fact, the first degree injury could have a prognosis of even 1 2-weeks, thus allowing the 2001 class to return in time to challenge the Venice in the race that will close the year: it is unlikely that at home, however Napoli there is the desire to risk their most representative player in a match that on paper is rather easy. Always remaining with the hypothesis of an incomplete lesion, it is therefore possible that kvaratskhelia may return at dawn 2025 to address the Fiorentina, in what could be a very high ranking challenge that is difficult to predict at the start of the season. However, in these cases, a lot depends on the feelings of the person directly involved, which when the knee is involved can overturn, for better or for worse (more in the second than in the first case), any medical report. For now, however, the worst hypotheses regarding the collateral ligament seem to have been averted: in order, a second degree lesion, with recovery times set in 3 4-weeks, and third degree injury, with the return to sporting activity which can also occur after 6 8-weeks and not without first having gone through a longer and more complex rehabilitation process.

The alternatives

  Almost like a dire prophecy, just a few days ago Tale he had prayed that his Napoli, who until then had been almost immaculate in terms of injuries, would not have to deal with any emergency. We are not at that level yet, because together with the Georgian in the pits there is only Pasquale Mazzocchi, far from being a starter and perhaps only to be seen on the pitch again in the 2025, but the fact is that alternatives will be needed as soon as possible. If this is the bad news, the good news is two: the vast array of wingers available to the Italian coach and the calendar, still on paper, not impossible that awaits the Napoli in the 'incriminated' weeks. A third asterisk could then be added, linked to the rather fluctuating performance of kvaratskhelia in recent weeks that perhaps would have required countermeasures regardless of the physical problem that has emerged in these hours. Many have long called for more minutes of David Neres, who in turn ended up in the crosshairs of criticism for the bloody ball lost against the Lazio and, in general, for various tactical errors. Yet, this very anarchy of the Brazilian seems to be what the Italian attack might need to find that vivacity that has disappeared in recent times, when victories have often arrived of 'short face' and with excessive suffering. The alternative is called Cyril Ngonge, a wild card of the attack who can also disengage on the left, just as he could also do James Raspadori, another one who knows how to do everything (or almost everything) up front: without forgetting Alessio zerbin, which however against the Lazio in Coppa Italia did not take full advantage of the opportunity. In fact, like all the so-called second lines. The option of a change of module cannot be ruled out, which could also serve to try to revitalize Romelu Lukaku, perhaps the emblem of the current offensive difficulties of the Napoli. It is known that the Belgian, if isolated and caged by the opposing defences, becomes sterile, harmless and almost a problem: hence the idea, now encouraged by the stop of kvaratskhelia, to try to get at least one player closer to him to try to get out of the tunnel. Putting aside the four-man defense that is doing so well could seem like an own goal: more likely, therefore, a temporary return to 4-2-3-1 which could make up for all the current problems. Or, in order not to upset the structure that until Sunday evening had led to the top of the standings, Tale will touch little or nothing, leveraging the innovations needed after the stop kvaratskhelia. A hitch, an unexpected event that, who knows, could shake up the team after what happened in three days to forget.

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