Calzona: ‘Kvaratskhelia almost a champion at Napoli’ | OneFootball

Francesco Calzona was at least less downhearted after Napoli snatched a 2-2 draw away to Fiorentina, but urges the club to give Kvicha Kvaratskhelia time. ‘He is almost a champion.’

The Partenopei knew defeat here would guarantee the Viola qualification for the Conference League, so fighting back for a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at least leaves the tiniest sliver of hope alive.

They had taken an early lead with the Amir Rrahmani header, only to concede twice in barely two minutes before the break from Cristiano Biraghi and M’Bala Nzola.

Only a sensational Kvaratskhelia free kick allowed them to take a point home.

“It doesn’t hurt too much today because I saw a good performance against a strong Fiorentina side,” Calzona told DAZN.

“I liked the team for the first half-hour, then we lost our way after the equaliser for 10 minutes and conceded the second goal. However, we stepped up after the break and had several good chances.

“We did not win, we know our problem is that we are forced to win, and that kind of pressure certainly doesn’t help. Honestly, Fiorentina had three scoring opportunities and converted two of them today, which is a recurring issue for us.

“I told the lads at half-time we had to push up more, as we were sitting too deep against a Fiorentina side who love to play the ball in the opposition half. This team has limitations, but it was mostly well-drilled today, so I am happy with the performance.”

Calzona shrugs off De Laurentiis

Calzona will go back to his day job at the end of the season, as coach of the Slovakia national team, and tempers are already beginning to fray with President Aurelio De Laurentiis.

The patron talked this week about completely reconstructing the squad that won the Scudetto only last year, so everyone is for sale at the right price, even Kvaratskhelia.

“The club will have its strategy and know what to do in order to revitalise this team and get it back to the position it deserves. Kvara is an important player, he is young and at times does not perform, but when a player has quality above the norm, he must be given time to grow. In my view, he is almost a champion,” concluded Calzona.

“As for what the President says, honestly I won’t comment on that, because it’s a club matter and it’s his problem.”