Massimiliano Allegri expects an unusually crowded title race this season, naming eight clubs he believes will be in contention as Napoli begin their centenary campaign.
With quotes courtesy of TuttoMercatoWeb, the coach was speaking to Sportmediaset following the opening matchday win at Genoa, and identified Inter as the side to beat while insisting the field behind them is deep.
“Inter are the favourites because they hold the trophy, but there will be at least eight teams to keep an eye on,” Allegri said. “As well as the Nerazzurri and ourselves, also Milan, Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina, Como and Atalanta.”
Allegri assesses Napoli’s defensive options
Allegri also provided an update on his own defensive situation, mourning the lengthy absence for Alessandro Buongiorno.
“It’s a shame about Buongiorno, who will be out until January,” he said. “In any case I have Marin and Rrahmani, Beukema is behind but he’ll recover his best form, and if needed I also have Olivera. I’m confident.”
Benoit Badiashile, signed on loan from Chelsea, is similarly working his way up to speed.
The coach set out a season with several fronts to manage. “It’ll be a beautiful and demanding year, we’ll have to be good at staying in it in Serie A, the Champions League and the Coppa Italia,” he said.
“The centenary comes around only once and so we’ll have the responsibility of producing an excellent season.”
On Europe, he was pragmatic: “In the Champions League you have to get through the league phase and then reach the play-offs or ideally the last 16.”
He closed with another assessment of Rasmus Hojlund, a day after comparing the Dane to Harry Kane. “He’s a forward with great physicality, he puts in the effort and he’s willing, but he has to improve his goal tally over the season,” Allegri said. “He can do it given he has all the potential.”
