Spalletti's Napoli 2021 Tactics for FM22

During the possession phase the central defenders deal with the marking and preventive cover and occasionally participate in the development of the maneuver. Between the two the one who deals most often is Koulibaly, who unloads the ball to the full-back and sprints forward on the wing to widen the opposing defense or to overlap Insigne.

The full-backs get up on the same line as the medians and Mario Rui can propose himself further on the wing and, at times, exchange positions with Insigne going to make the outside high, with the Napoli captain getting closer to the center of the field.

The midfield is staggered with Ruiz falling further behind Anguissa who, at times, swaps positions with Elmas and uses his speed to fit into the spaces. During the development of the maneuver, Elmas remains between the midfield and attack lines to be ready to receive the ball from the medians or to enter a cross made by the flanks.



POSSESSION PHASE

-CONSTRUCTION:

The action begins with Ospina opening, with a low construction, for the central defenders who, in the event of an opponent pressing in the defensive half, widen towards the full backs who have more discharge options, or the outside of their own band that is lowered, the midfielder or the attacking midfielder. All this is to overcome the pressure line using quick exchanges and one-two on the wing to stretch the opposing team and take advantage of the game at speed. In case of lack of pressing by the counterpart, it is one of the two medians who lowers himself to receive the ball or even Elmas, who exchanges positions with Anguissa, to then develop the game on the flanks. Sometimes, direct construction is also used, both by Ospina and by the defenders, if too pressed or to try to take advantage of Osimhen's sprint and progression speed in case of spaces left by the opposing defense.

-DEVELOPMENT:

The game is mainly developed on the flanks with two chains: on the left, the one used most often, with Mario Rui-Ruiz-Insigne and on the right with Di Lorenzo-Anguissa-Politano and with Elmas who moves on the opponent's trocar ready to join the maneuver and to dialogue with the outsiders who are centralized (between the two most distinguished ones) to create spaces on the sides. The medians also take care of changing the game on the opposite side to make the opposing defense widen.

- FINISHING AND FINALIZATION:

The finishing area is used on the flanks to put crosspieces in the middle for the tip, on the second post for cutting the opposite exterior or at the edge of the area for the arrival of the attacking midfielder or one of the two midfielders in tow. In the event of overlapping on the flanks, the outsiders concentrate to try the round shot on the opposite post or to talk to Osimhen or the attacking midfielder to create triangulations at the edge of the area. This is used to then try to conclude the action with a shot from the edge or to enter the spaces in the penalty area, created by the attacker's movement. Another option for finishing is Osimhen's speed to pocket defenses with long balls or a personal progression of his own.



STAGE OF NOT POSSESSION

- FIRST DEFENSIVE ACTION:

Napoli brings a strong pressure on the opponent's trocar to recover the ball and, subsequently, to be able to take advantage of a restart with Osimhen. If pressing, on the other hand, forces the opposing defense to make a long ball, the blues can take advantage of the two central defenders' ability in aerial duels to regain possession. The pressing is carried out by the striker, by the winger, by one of the midfielders (especially Anguissa), by the attacking midfielder and by one of the full backs (especially Mario Rui).