Osimhen ‘angry’ for missing AZ Alkmaar trip – Gattuso
Napoli manager, Gennaro Gattuso, named the squad for AZ Alkmaar and revealed that Victor Osimhen ‘is angry’ for his exclusion due to injury.
Amir Rrahmani and Elseid Hysaj are the only players absent from Napoli’s squad list to face AZ Alkmaar alongside the Nigerian striker who picked up a shoulder injury while on international duty last month.
The defenders had tested positive for COVID but have now recovered and are expected to return to action next weekend when the Azzurri face Crotone at the Ezio Scida.
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“I hate to wait, but I also hate to see the guy [Osimhen] not smiling, angry. He’s living it badly,” Gattuso told Sky Sport on Wednesday.
“We must be good to make him feel at ease.”
Tiemoue Bakayoko returns to the team after serving a one-match ban in Napoli’s last Serie A game against Roma.
Napoli sit at the top of the Group F table with nine points after four matches – two points above second-placed Real Sociedad and Thursday’s hosts AZ Alkmaar.
Gattuso has warned his team against complacency as they aim to secure their place in the Europa League last 16.
He added; “Their team is strong technically and we cannot permit ourselves to be lazy.
“Quality wins some matches, but not all. If you want to win, it takes head and heart. We play together in good and bad, it will be a tough match tomorrow. I haven’t decided on a formation, I will take things into consideration.”
Napoli squad list for AZ Alkmaar:
Goalkeepers: Meret, Ospina, Contini
Defenders: Di Lorenzo, Ghoulam, Koulibaly, Maksimovic, Manolas, Mario Rui
Midfielders: Demme, Elmas, Lobotka, Fabian Ruiz, Zielinski, Bakayoko
Attackers: Lozano, Mertens, Petagna, Politano, Insigne