REINA: NAPOLI SQUAD NOT IN TOP CONDITION

Former Liverpool shot stopper Pepe Reina has shed light on happenings in the Napoli squad, following their start in the Serie A this season.

Last term star striker Gonzalo Higuain left during the summer to join archrivals Juventus, but Reina opines that the club would be fine even in Higuain’s absence.

Napoli were able to retain top defender Kalidou Koulibaly despite the huge interests the player amassed during the summer transfer window. Despite all the struggles of the last campaign, the Napoli squad is decent enough to make a title challenge, Reina said.

“Koulibaly’s renewal is fantastic news, in my opinion. For those of us who fight in the defence, he’s a key player. Arek Milik has an excellent character and an exemplary behaviour. He can help us for the present and the future,” Reina said.
On the departure of Higuain, he said: “Higuain? I don’t think there’s any need to discuss him further. Without him, maybe Callejon will score more goals, the way he did in our first championship with Napoli.”

He agreed that the team would need to do more to reach their target this summer, saying: “Everyone can score more and do much better, especially now that we don’t have the contribution of the Pipita. For the good and for the bad, the Azurri colours are what matters. We’ll honour them till the end.”

After the first two rounds of games in the Serie A, Napoli are two points behind leaders Juventus. Reina confessed that there were some deficiencies in the backline as they start the new campaign.

“It’s conceivable that there may be some mistakes in the beginning, even though last year we managed a series of games without conceding any goal. The team still isn’t in top condition, but I’m satisfied with the four points we picked up so far, and I believe we’ll develop.”