Del Piero: Napoli were more tired than Arsenal at the 80th minute, and it was not just about fatigue

Del Piero commented on Napoli's home match against Arsenal on a program, saying that Napoli were more tired than Arsenal at the 80th minute.

Del Piero said: "If the difference comes from quality, then the team feeling tired at the 80th minute was Napoli, not Arsenal. Arsenal controlled more possession through their own style of play. Players like Odegaard are very suited to this way of playing, and he also had an excellent season before. From a psychological perspective, these factors all play a role."

He continued: "Saka and Arsenal's wide players can use their greater physical energy to launch attacks, while Napoli's players have to keep chasing their opponents for several minutes and then complete transitions between attack and defense. This is not only about fatigue, but also involves the style of play, positioning, confidence, and one side having players with more experience and greater knowledge of the game."

Speaking about Napoli's squad issues, Del Piero said: "The Champions League is not Napoli's league. How should they play? They should play in the way they are capable of playing. There is no need to save energy, and there is no need to have two players prepared for every position. The key is to always give maximum effort. We have played in difficult situations many times in the past. Being worried because there are not two full-backs available, in my opinion, is just an excuse. I think of Juventus, who currently have seven injured players, and that is indeed a considerable number. Then look at Real Madrid yesterday, they had five players unavailable, but they still placed Alexander-Arnold in midfield."

Del Piero also praised Napoli's consistency over the years: "After Spalletti led the team to win the Serie A title, we all thought Napoli's next championship might have to wait 30 years. I think Napoli are one of the important forces in today's football. They won Serie A two years ago and are now playing in the Champions League again. As time passes, the squad will change. Players like Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae, no one could have predicted what achievements they would go on to make, but Napoli have always been a very stable team."