ROME — Unable to attain the specified outcomes with Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian membership Al Nassr, Rudi Garcia is going through a fair larger problem as the brand new coach of Italian champion Napoli.

Garcia was employed to interchange Luciano Spalletti, who's taking a yr off from soccer after guiding Napoli to its first Serie A title because the days when Diego Maradona performed for the membership.

“Any coach who sits on Napoli’s bench next season knows that it’s a difficult job. Because when you win the title, in order to improve you need to repeat, and that won’t be easy,” Garcia mentioned on Monday at his presentation on the Capodimonte nationwide museum on a hill overlooking Naples.

“The players know they need to make an even bigger effort,” Garcia added. “I’m not going to revolutionize everything but I’ll make my imprint. For instance, the 4-3-3 seems to fit this team like a glove. But you also need to know how to change during games. I want intelligent players who can without relying only on Plan A. … The good thing about this team is that everyone runs. I’ve got to make sure they keep running - with and without the ball.”

Garcia signed a two-year contract with an possibility for a 3rd season. The 59-year-old Frenchman is not any stranger to Italian soccer, having coached Roma from 2013-16.

“It’s destiny. I was replaced by Spalletti at Roma and now I’m following him after his great season at Napoli,” Garcia mentioned.

PHOTOS: Trophy-less with Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, Rudi Garcia faces a fair larger problem at Napoli

Garcia left Al Nassr by mutual settlement in April after failing to safe first place regardless of Ronaldo’s arrival in January.

Napoli followers have simply as excessive expectations, as demonstrated when Garcia was greeted by a big banner from Napoli’s hard-core “ultra” supporters that learn: “Benvenuto in vetta Monsieur. Difendiamola” - “Welcome to the top Monsieur. Let’s defend it.”

Garcia mentioned the followers have each proper to suppose that means.

“When I arrived in the city and saw all the banners, I realized how proud the fans and the city are for their team,” Garcia mentioned. “And I hope that happens in the future, too.”

Known for using comparable techniques to Spalletti with a heavy emphasis on speedy wingers - see Gervinho and Mohamed Salah at Roma - Garcia seems to be the right match for a Napoli crew that likes to work by means of Georgia dribbling wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left wing.

“I hope so,” Garcia mentioned. “I’m not a chef but I’ve got to keep this group going on the fire.”

While stating a objective of reaching the Champions League remaining, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis additionally mentioned of Garcia: “We have to do job of letting him do his job with out piling on an excessive amount of strain.

“He’s a coach who knows how to play the cords of a violin and turn it into a Stradivari,” De Laurentiis added, making an analogy of how Garcia makes use of his gamers.

While defender Kim Min-jae is predicted to depart, Napoli is hoping to maintain Serie A scoring chief Victor Osimhen.

“I’ve said for a while now that Osimhen should stay. But if an offer that can’t be refused comes in, we’ll see,” De Laurentiis mentioned. “We’ve laid down the basis for a two-year contract extension.”

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