On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., you will host your first Serie A meeting since leaving AS Roma in 2016. What is your state of mind and what are your ambitions? Rudi Garcia: I’m very, very happy to be back in Italy, it’s a pleasure to be back in Serie A, I’m even quite impatient, because I’m going to see if there have been any changes (in terms of play and tactics). I think there was and I will find out. I think Serie A has become even more attacking. At the time when I was in Rome (2013-16, editor’s note), there were already a lot of teams playing three behind, this is still the case for a good part of the teams (…) My goal, it’s simple, is to bring this team to the level where we know it is capable of playing. I am calm, I am focused on my team to give them all the keys so that they can win matches. As champions, a lot is expected of us, but we are among the favorites – we are not THE favorite – that is true in all championships.
Coaching Napoli, who became Italian champions last season after more than thirty years of waiting at the end of an exciting season, is this the greatest challenge of your career? All challenges are difficult. But whether it’s me talking to you right now, whether it’s the former coach who left, or another coach, the expectations would be the same. I experienced this in Lille (his club from 2008 to 2013, editor’s note), it had been 50 years since we had won either the championship or the Coupe de France, we did the double (in 2011, editor’s note) , I stayed, I found myself in a situation where expectations were high. It was no easier to have stayed in Lille at the time than to arrive in Naples.
Did your time at Marseille from 2016-19 prepare you to coach Napoli, with the two clubs having a few things in common? It’s true, they are two Mediterranean clubs with supporters who are always behind their team. Football is that, a warm atmosphere, tifosi capable of pushing their team and making a difference. In this respect, it is similar. And what is similar is that it is better to win the matches to be appreciated and fully enjoy.
