Massimiliano Allegri has outlined his ambition to secure silverware during Napoli’s centenary season while offering detailed assessments of key squad members including Rasmus Hojlund, Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour.
Speaking two months into his return to the club where he played three decades ago, the Napoli manager told Sky Sport Italia that success in the club’s 100th year would require sustained professionalism across the entire campaign.
Striker comparison and attacking quality
Allegri drew a direct parallel between Hojlund and England captain Harry Kane when asked which elite forward the Danish striker resembles. “Hojlund has significant margins for growth, that’s clear,” Allegri said. “In terms of characteristics I see him as very close to Harry Kane: they’re two powerful players who break away, who have physicality and know how to trade shoulder charges with defenders.”
The manager emphasised that the young forward must improve his finishing to reach the highest level. “I think Hojlund still has big room for improvement, and he has to want it above all in the finishing phase, which is what makes the difference,” he added.
De Bruyne, who secured Napoli’s opening-weekend victory at Genoa, received equally strong praise for his technical ability. “Technically I’m certainly not the one who discovers him,” Allegri said. “When he plays it’s a pleasure to watch, he does things very few know how to do.” The Belgian midfielder is described as introverted off the pitch but decisive on it, with Allegri noting: “The important thing is that on the pitch he’s De Bruyne, and when he’s well he is.”
Midfield depth and collective spirit
Gilmour has also impressed the manager since recovering from injury. “Gilmour is an important player who reads the game well,” Allegri said. “He’s coming back from an injury and he’s growing game by game, you can see he’s gaining more and more confidence.” The Scotland international’s return provides options in midfield that Allegri believes will prove vital across a long season.
The Italian identified the squad’s collective character rather than individual brilliance as Napoli’s primary asset. “The strength of this team is the group,” he said. “It’s a group of excellent players who put themselves at each other’s disposal, and that has to be the strength for the whole year, not just in the easy matches.”
Centenary ambitions
Allegri reflected on the transformation of both the city and the club since his playing days. “Naples is totally different to thirty years ago as a city,” he said. “It was wonderful then, and now it’s become even more so.” He noted that Napoli have established themselves as regular competitors in the Champions League and Europa League, adding two Scudetti to their honours list over the past fifteen years.
With the club celebrating its centenary, Allegri defined success in clear terms. “I’d be happy if we’d won something,” he said. “But above all to have had an important season and to have left something concrete. To do that you have to be very serious, very professional and above all very responsible for all ten months of the season.”
The manager described his first eight weeks in charge as months of “real work, of graft” aimed at building the right foundations. With the season now underway, he insists the preparatory work must translate into consistent league performance as Napoli pursue trophies in their landmark campaign.