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Napoli: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

NAPLES, ITALY - OCTOBER 19: Players of Napoli pose for photo with the banner against the racism prior the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas JK at Stadio San Paolo on October 19, 2016 in Naples, . (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - OCTOBER 19: Players of Napoli pose for photo with the banner against the racism prior the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Besiktas JK at Stadio San Paolo on October 19, 2016 in Naples, . (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) /
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Napoli’s Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri gives a press conference at the SSC Napoli headquarters on October 18, 2016, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group B football match SSC Napoli vs Besiktas JK. / AFP / CARLO HERMANN (Photo credit should read CARLO HERMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
Napoli’s Italian head coach Maurizio Sarri gives a press conference at the SSC Napoli headquarters on October 18, 2016, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group B football match SSC Napoli vs Besiktas JK. / AFP / CARLO HERMANN (Photo credit should read CARLO HERMANN/AFP/Getty Images) /

The big fear: That Sarri isn’t the right coach to get them over the top.

For the first half of last season, Sarri and Napoli took Italian soccer by storm. The club won eight consecutive matches and earned the moniker Campioni d’Inverno for their stellar early season form. Their undefeated run in group play in the Europa League led to the hope that the side would either capture the Serie A or Europa League title. But after the club lost three keys matches to Udinese, Inter Milan, and Roma in league play  and were taken out by Villarreal in the Round of 32 of Europa League play those hopes were dashed.

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It would be unfair to point all of Napoli’s late season problems on Sarri. But his inexperience in coaching in big matches at the top-level requires a look at. Prior to his tenure at Napoli Sarri’s biggest job was at Empoli where he helped guide the side back to Serie A. Although he has plenty of experience in the lower levels of Italian football last season was really his first crack with a top-level side.

Every manager has a period where they grow an adapt to a new situation and perhaps last season’s relative slide will lead to greater glory for Sarri this season at Napoli. The hope is that his experience last year will make him a better coach in Serie A and in Europe. But not every coach can make the jump so it will be interesting to see where Sarri falls when it is all said and done.

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