Max Allegri Addresses Napoli's Mood Swings Ahead of Inter Clash

Massimiliano Allegri walked into the press room and heard the question that has followed Napoli all week: is this still a Scudetto race after losing to Como and losing key players?

He didn’t need to hear it twice.

“I understand that at Napoli it's either over-excitement or depression, but we are only in Week 3,” he shrugged, cutting straight through the hysteria that has wrapped itself around the club since that 2-1 defeat at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Napoli travel to San Siro on Saturday to face Inter at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST), a head‑to‑head between the top two teams of the last two Serie A seasons. They go there wounded, but not, Allegri insists, broken.

Injuries and a restless city

The loss to Como hurt twice. On the pitch, in a game Napoli felt they controlled for long spells. And in the treatment room.

Giovane picked up an injury, while Scott McTominay has been ruled out for several weeks after surgery to correct a small heart issue. They join long-term absentees Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci, stripping Allegri of depth in key areas just as the calendar starts to tighten.

Yet the coach refused to lean on excuses.

“We’re disappointed to have lost to Como, but there must be balance, there are so many games still to be played,” he said. “We didn't even put in a bad performance, but tomorrow is a head-to-head between the top two in the last two seasons. We go forward with confidence, then we can think about Arsenal and the Champions League.”

Then came the twist only Allegri could deliver: even the injuries, in his mind, carry a sliver of opportunity.

“Injuries happen, but if you think that after the break for international duty there are nine matches in 26 days, it's better to have those injuries now so everyone can recover in time for that spell.”

Vergara, responsibility and rotation

With so many players sidelined, attention has quickly turned to Antonio Vergara. The youngster has become the name on supporters’ lips, the symbol of both hope and risk in a squad suddenly stretched.

Allegri, as ever, reached for caution.

“I don't think we should put too much responsibility onto the shoulders of Vergara,” he warned. “He's a good player, but I think only has 12 games for Napoli, so we've got to take it easy.”

His decision to leave Vergara on the bench against Como drew criticism, but Allegri was unmoved.

“I made a different choice against Como, he remained on the bench because I am only allowed five substitutions. We are improving physically, I am happy with how the lads are training, now we have to make fewer errors in the matches.”

De Bruyne’s wait and life without McTominay

Another big name on the edge of the conversation is Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has yet to start a game this season, still playing catch-up with his fitness while Napoli search for fluency.

“He is improving,” Allegri said, before turning to the tactical headache created by McTominay’s absence. “Naturally I need to balance out the midfield without McTominay, as this limits the options. Benoit Badiashile is in the squad, I'm pleased with what I saw in training. I cannot ask anyone else for what we get from Scott, so it's a different player with different characteristics.”

No like-for-like replacement, no easy fix. Just a different Napoli, forced to adapt on the fly before stepping into one of the most unforgiving arenas in Italian football.

Back to San Siro

For Allegri, San Siro is not just another away ground. It is the stadium where he was fired by Milan last summer, but also the place where he won both editions of the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.

“Playing in that stadium is always marvellous, while Inter and Napoli love to do battle,” he said. “We need a good performance with fewer technical errors, because those are costly.”

The warning was pointed. Against Como, Napoli conceded two avoidable goals. Against Inter, those lapses tend to decide titles.

“Inter are the real favourites for the Scudetto,” Allegri admitted. “We've got to be more careful, as we conceded two avoidable goals against Como. Head to head clashes are always difficult to win.”

A different kind of race

Napoli’s summer was quieter than those of their rivals. Where other Serie A giants spent big, Napoli were forced to sell before they could buy, trimming ambition to fit the balance sheet.

Allegri refused to be drawn into comparisons.

“There's no point looking at the others, we need to focus on ourselves,” he said. “I'm pleased with the squad at our disposal, we've got to lay the foundations now for what will be the final push of the season, taking one step at a time.”

So the picture is clear. An impatient city, a bruised squad, a coach demanding calm, and Inter waiting at San Siro.

Week 3, and already Napoli are walking the tightrope between over-excitement and depression. Which way will they fall?