Ancelotti and De Laurentiis at odds over Napoli squad lockdown
The Serie A side's president has ordered the squad to remain under pre-match conditions until next Sunday after some under-fire performances.
Carlo Ancelotti does not agree with Aurelio de Larentiis’ decision to slap a lockdown on Napoli’s squad after a defeat to Roma and a draw against Atalanta in their last two league games has left last season’s runners up languishing in seventh in Serie A.
Ancelotti’s side have traditionally over the past few seasons been the closest challenger to Juventus’ domestic dominance but three draws and three losses in their opening 11 games has left Napoli 11 points adrift of the Old Lady with only Inter Milan offering any serious resistance to another processional march by the Turin club.
And while De Laurentiis has no problem with his coach, the film mogul has pointed the finger firmly at his players and ordered them to remain under pre-match conditions from Tuesday’s Champions League game against Red Ball Salzburg until after Saturday’s home game against Genoa.
Napoli president: “Ancelotti is a great coach and a fine gentleman"
“The squad will remain together until the Sunday before the international break,” De Laurentiis said. “Ancelotti is a great coach and a fine gentleman. I have no reason to ask him to do a better job. The problem lies in team work and harmony. That depends on the players, who need to find motivation.”
However, Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference that he was not entirely sure his president’s actions were the right way to go about arresting the recent slump. “It was the idea of the board to take this decision and we accept it. But if you ask me if I agree with it I would tell you no.”