Napoli coach Francesco Calzona tried to explain the ‘catastrophe’ at the club, admitting he likely ‘underestimated the situation’ in the Campania capital. The Partenopei again disappointed in their Serie A outing on Friday evening, dropping points in a tense 2-2 draw away to Fiorentina, a result that leaves them ninth in the league table with one match left to play.
A Challenging Tenure
Calzona took over as Napoli’s caretaker coach back in February, retaining his role with the Slovakia national team while also trying to help out the Partenopei. He’ll return to the Sokoli on a permanent basis following the end of the Serie A season, drawing a close to a difficult three months in Campania. Speaking in a press conference via TMW after Napoli’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, Calzona first discussed what he’ll be leaving behind at the club after his exit at the end of the campaign. “I won’t go into detail, the club must know this, I don’t give advice. I was called to improve the situation and I wasn’t able to do it, I take responsibility. I took a team 9th in the table and that’s what we are.”
Calzona reflected on the challenging period since he joined, stating, “However, I arrived after the season had started and already after a week of training camp there was already controversy. Since they told me that I don’t coach the team, I’ll say that in these almost three months I am to blame. Evidently, I didn’t make an impact and I’m sorry, but Napoli’s season had started seven and a half months earlier. And I say this as a Napoli fan, after a week the controversy started.”
Facing Unexpected Difficulties
When asked about his perceived failure and the hurdles faced, Calzona remarked, “My management has kept the team in the same position, and I take responsibility. I shouldn’t be the only one… I didn’t expect all these problems, of course, I did not expect a catastrophe that’s not only on the pitch but in general.” He elaborated on the unexpected challenges, “I didn’t only have to think about training, as would be my job, but many other things and no one told me anything about that. Maybe I underestimated the situation because I didn’t know it.”
Calzona’s candid comments shed light on the complexities and unforeseen issues that marked his short tenure with Napoli, emphasizing his regret and accountability for the team’s ongoing struggles.
