The responsibility lies with the coach- says Spalletti after 3-2 loss

had not lost a

match when leading 2-0 since 1942, let alone when leading until the 79th minute. 

At the Stadio Castellani, they conceded three goals in seven minutes, effectively ending any hopes of winning the Scudetto. 

When Alex Meret was caught off guard on a simple clearance, Andrea Pinamonti barred it for a 2-2 tie, the look on the young goalie's face said it all.

“I can only take note of what happens. Clearly, imagining an end to the game like that was difficult, but when you don’t have the right intensity and concentration… We made a few too many mistakes, lost the ball too cheaply,” Spalletti told DAZN with barely a whisper.

“Inevitably, the coach has to shoulder much of the blame for the attitude and consistency. The responsibility lies with the coach.”

It is far from the first time that Napoli has disintegrated mentally in a tough circumstance, and the problem dates back to the days of Maurizio Sarri and Rafa Benitez. 

“It depends on what you build day by day, the attitude that is consolidated, being focused, attentive. Something evidently went wrong,” added Spalletti.

“When we talk about an error like that, some fear sets in and the opponents can take advantage. Even if Empoli hadn’t won for a while, they played good football. These things can happen in football and it happened.”

Meret's blunder was the game-winner for 2-2, as he was pressed into a six-yard error by Pinamonti, illustrating the troubles of playing out of the rear. 

“It’s important for us to keep possession, because our characteristics are not suited to the battle. Even then, it didn’t seem to be a battle to that level to become unsustainable for these players.

“I am responsible for this team, for their attitude, their approach, so I take the consequences for what happens on the field.

“Much of it has to be my fault. We’ve been working together for almost a year, there ought to be a mentality and reaction coming from my work with these players. We were challenging for the Scudetto, as everyone said, we had the qualities to challenge for the Scudetto, but if the level is this, I cannot avoid being called into question.”

Spalletti was quizzed about how this slump, which has resulted in one point from the last three matches, will influence both his and the Napoli players' futures.

“Don’t worry about that now, let’s talk about the match. We need to qualify for the

and the club will make its evaluations at the end of the season. We resume work from Tuesday with great calm and then we’ll see.”

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