Mazzarri’s preferred formation is with three defenders and a midfield featuring two attacking wingers. Will it be a revolution or a gradual transition?
Walter Mazzarri reunites with Napoli after 10 years, a partnership that made the city dream at the time. The coach always used a three-man defense, with wide wingers and two playmakers free to create behind a central striker. Napoli’s today squad, however, is very different. In practice, he was the last coach to build Napoli’s identity around this formation, alternating between 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2. All those who succeeded him on the bench have always opted for a four-man defensive line and two offensive wingers supporting one or two strikers. In particular, President De Laurentiis‘s favorite formation is 4-3-3, to the extent that he chose the coach last summer based on tactical continuity.
Mazzarri will have to consider whether to immediately embark on a new path or try to incorporate his ideas within the existing continuity. The 4-3-3 he might propose wouldn’t be significantly different in terms of personnel, as the starters were identified by Rudi Garcia without much difficulty. More intriguing, however, is envisioning Napoli with a different setup. The hypothetical three-man defense could consist of Ostigard, Rrahmani, and Natan. Di Lorenzo would undoubtedly be the right-wing back, while Olivera could find space on the left; in the center, Anguissa and Lobotka. For the attacking trio, Osimhen is immovable. At that point, the coach can consider two options: two playmakers like Zielinski and Raspadori or two wingers with Kvaratkshelia and Politano.
Here’s the formation that the new coach could use:
