If http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003’s defensive frailties were to be exposed, it would not have been in a game other than the clash at Stamford Bridge.
The defensive infirmity was exposed in their recent league game against Cagliari too, but Napoli’s 6-3 victory in the game overshadowed it.
Going into the second-leg of the last 16 round against Chelsea with a healthy 3-1 lead, only few people would have thought that the Partenopei side will throw away the advantage. However, it turned out to be a nightmare for the Azzurri, as Didier Drogba and co. took the Napoli defenders to the cleaners. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Salvatore-Aronica-c32276 were awful in their defending, and they were outclassed by the Blues.
The trio has provided solidity to the Azzurri defence this season. It can also be determined by the fact that Napoli have the 4th best defensive record in the league so far. However, it is about time that Aurelio De Laurentiis must invest in a top quality defender to take the club to the next level.
Napoli boast some top quality midfielders and the Three Tenors definitely make them a world-class attacking unit. The Naples based club invested a considerable amount on signing striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eduardo-Vargas-c12087 in the January transfer window. However, the striker has failed to live up to his price tag so far, and it is believed that Walter Mazzarri and co. have made a poor decision in signing him.
Many pundits believe that the Azzurri missed a trick by not signing a top quality defender in January, as they required a new centre-back in order to compete with the big clubs in Europe. The first-choice defensive trio of Napoli are all of age 30 and plus, and they definitely need a top-class young defender to compete with the teams such as AC Milan, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 and Real Madrid.
Salvatore Aronica, 34, was an anonymous figure in the Napoli back three at Stamford Bridge, as he failed to compete with the pace of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ramires-c30523 and Juan Mata.
Campagnaro, 31, had a miserable night, and was the most appalling of the Napoli defenders at the Bridge. The veteran was poor in the air and terrible on the deck too, as he failed to combat with the physical game of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paolo-Cannavaro-c29080, 30, whose mistake led to Chelsea’s only goal in the first-leg, was relatively better of the Napoli defenders in London.
From Serie C to UEFA Champions League in approximately six years, Napoli have made a marathon progress, and they are looking to establish themselves amongst the elites of Europe. Walter Mazzarri has been the chief architect behind all the good things the Azzurri have done in the recent past. The tactician has an astute eye for scouting a talent, and with the limited budget of the club, he has put together a team of world-class players.
However, the former Sampdoria boss needs to beef up his defence in the summer transfer window, as according to a famous saying, “offense sells tickets; Defence wins Championships.”
Bettor.com will now look at a few possible options, who might force Laurentiis to open his chequebook.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863)
The Frenchman has established himself as one of the best defenders in the game after his impressive performances for the Spanish side this season. The 26-year-old has attracted interest from few of the top clubs across Europe including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain.
The former Lille star could be an ideal signing for the Partenopei side given his physical strength and imposing authority at the back.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Neven-Subotic-c27632 (Borussia Dortmund)
The Serbian is widely considered as one of the best emerging defenders in the game. Subotic, together with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mats-Hummels-c24767, has been the corner stone of Dortmund’s recent success. After helping the club to Bundesliga title last season, the duo has conceded only 22 goals in the 34 matches played this season.
The 23-year-old has drawn comparisons with his compatriot and Manchester United star, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nemanja-Vidic-c27550. Subotic’s style of play is made for Italian football, and he will be a big success if Napoli pounce on his signature.
Mehdi Benatia (Udinese)
The Moroccan international will be a familiar figure for the Naples based club, having played against him this season. Mazzarri has scouted the defender on numerous occasisions this season, and he is a huge admirer of the centre-back.
However, the Azzurri tactician faces a tough battle to sign the former Olympique Marseille star, as Manchester United are also tracking him. Recent reports suggest that Napoli are willing to offer a swap deal to Udinese, involving their prized youngster, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lorenzo-Insigne-c22431, in the deal.
Despite being dumped out of Europe, the Partenopei side should be applauded for their marvellous achievements this season. Walter Mazzarri’s side must now shift their focus on finishing amongst the top-three in Serie A, and they must overhaul their defence in the summer transfer window not only to compete in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 but also in Europe.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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