Capello: Napoli have 'distinctive trait' of title-winning teams

epa11684855 Napoli's defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo celebrates after scoring a goal that was later disallowed during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs US Lecce at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 26 October 2024. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Fabio Capello is convinced that Napoli’s 1-0 win over Lecce was a message they sent ‘straight to the San Siro’, as Antonio Conte’s side are proving to be able to make a credible Scudetto challenge until the end.

The Partenopei piled up their second consecutive win with a single-goal margin after last week’s victory at Empoli, and while their displays on both occasions were far from spectacular, the former Juventus and Milan manager believes they are showing a ‘distinctive trait’ belonging to winning teams.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s second half goal against Lecce was enough to earn Napoli another sluggish but crucial win that will keep them on top of the Serie A table at the end of Matchday nine.

According to Capello, the Partenopei’s victory was marked by ‘much humility’, which he believed could make the difference in the title fight with the likes of Inter, Milan and Juventus.

“I’m convinced this is an extremely valuable quality because it’s a distinctive trait of those sides that see it through,” Capello wrote on La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I don’t know if Napoli will win the Scudetto, but I’m sure they’ll fight for it: they have a great manager, an equipped squad and a city able to pump the team like few others, as well as the advantage of not playing European competitions.”

Romelu Lukaku remained scoreless for a second time in a row against Lecce, but Capello thinks that his ‘abilities’ and ‘experience’ can’t be questioned, also adding that Conte is a ‘guarantee’.

“For sure, Napoli will need Lukaku’s goals, because you also win the championship with goal scorers, but his abilities and experience are not in discussion,” he noted.

“Also, Conte on the bench is a guarantee: Romelu will start scoring again because who feels Antonio’s trust can always do his best.”

The Partenopei will take on Milan at the San Siro next Tuesday, and the Rossoneri will be without both Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders, who will be banned due to a knock-on effect following the postponement of their Bologna fixture.