Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri attributed Victor Osimhen’s underwhelming performance in the team’s 1-0 loss to Juventus on Friday night to the striker’s lack of full fitness.
This defeat marked Napoli’s third consecutive loss across competitions, with Osimhen making his second consecutive start but failing to replicate his peak form after recovering from an injury.
Mazzarri acknowledged the need for Osimhen to regain full fitness to reach his full potential.
He noted the intense marking Osimhen faced during the game, stating, “Champions inspire the others, but they also need to find full fitness. You could tell he was being man-marked even when the ball was nowhere near him.”
The coach expressed confidence that a fit Osimhen would make a significant difference for the team.
However, he also highlighted the challenge of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, where Osimhen will represent Nigeria, and the need for other players to step up in his absence.
“When he is in good shape, he will make the difference, but then we lose him with the Africa Cup of Nations and others have to fill in,” he said.
Osimhen has scored six goals in 11 league appearances for Napoli this season, but his recent struggles raise concerns about his consistency and impact on the team’s performance.
