Cannavaro: Spalletti would've torn Napoli players to pieces

Fabio Cannavaro says Napoli have missed the hardline approach of Luciano Spalletti.

Cannavaro was impressed by Spalletti's work in the past week with Italy.

He told Il Mattino: "In his two years in Naples we shared ideas, but seeing him speak to the Italy dressing room between the match against Venezuela and the one against Ecuador, seeing how he called upon various players to make a greater commitment, the terms and tones used to motivate the Azzurri made me understand even more the feat he accomplished in Naples.

"Well, I imagine what would have happened when training resumed with Traore, Anguissa and Raspadori due to the mistake made during Atalanta's first goal last Saturday: they are immobile, dazed, spectators while four Bergamo players occupy the small area. He would have torn them to pieces. And I have to say: he's right, I see a lot of Marcello Lippi in his way of doing things."

Cannavaro also said of Napoli: "I can't stand how they treated (Piotr) Zielinski who already, poor thing, seems like someone who had nothing to do with it. Someone who gave his soul for 8 years, why shouldn't he leave amidst the hosannas? We're close to having to escape from Naples in night, almost secretly."