Mansion Sports – Giovanni Di Lorenzo emphasized that Napoli arrive at the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia with full determination to secure victory.

He also urged his teammates to be able to finish the job within the normal 90 minutes when facing AC Milan in the semifinal match scheduled for Thursday, while stressing that a penalty shootout represents a form of gambling.

The Supercoppa Italiana will begin in Riyadh with the semifinal match between Napoli and Milan on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Bologna and Inter will face each other in the other semifinal scheduled to take place on Friday night, before the winners of both matches meet in the final on Monday.

Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who spoke alongside Antonio Conte during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, stated that Napoli remain in a strong condition despite having recently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Udinese and a 2-0 loss to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League.

He explained that the team arrive at this stage in a good moment even after losing their most recent matches.

According to him, the Supercoppa is a different competition, in which Napoli will play with an open approach, and he assessed the overall condition of the squad as being in a positive situation.

Napoli’s Target in the Supercoppa Italiana

When asked about Napoli’s target in the Supercoppa Italiana, Di Lorenzo explained that the approach taken is to go through the competition one match at a time. However, he stressed that he does not want the match to be decided by a penalty shootout.

He stated that penalties are unpredictable, similar to a lottery, and therefore Napoli aim to secure qualification for the final within normal time.

He also acknowledged Milan’s strength, noting that they possess many high-quality players, meaning Napoli must remain fully focused in order to deliver their best performance.

Di Lorenzo’s Role and Positional Flexibility

Di Lorenzo was also asked for his views on his recent role as a right wing-back, and whether he has a preference for playing in a back three or a back four system. 

He emphasized that all players are professionals who are accustomed to always being ready to play.

He stated that he always trains at the highest level and tries to give his best in every opportunity.
According to him, matches like these can indeed be mentally exhausting, but they also require a significant sacrifice of energy.

He added that he will play in whatever position is determined by the coach and is always ready for the team, with personal position never being the main priority.

The Role of Young Players in the Napoli Squad

Napoli, like Milan, have brought several players from their youth team to Saudi Arabia. Responding to this, Di Lorenzo stated that these young players are talents who regularly train with the first team and are capable of bringing a fresh atmosphere into the senior squad.

He added that the team tries to make the young players feel comfortable and helps them express the best of their abilities when they are given opportunities.

Focus on Napoli’s Defensive Aspect

Regarding Napoli’s defensive aspect, Di Lorenzo stressed that the course of the match greatly depends on how the team defends. He stated that this factor will be extremely important in the upcoming match.

According to him, a team can attack better when it is able to defend solidly. He emphasized that Napoli have worked extensively on this aspect during training sessions. 

Therefore, the team will aim to display a strong defensive performance while also showing the quality of their ball possession.