Spalletti rues Osimhen's missed chances in Fiorentina defeat

Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has expressed his disappointment at the Napoli team and Victor Osimhen for not taking their chances in the 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday. 

The Italian manager noted that though the second half of the game was better, Napoli's lack of preciseness robbed the team of a better first half. 

Fiorentina took a shock lead at the Diego Maradona Stadium in Naples through Nicolas Gonzalez in the 29th minute. Jonathan Ikone (66') and Arthur Cabral (72') gave the visitors a two-goal cushion after Dries Mertens had levelled the scores in the 58th minute.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen assisted Mertens' goal and scored in the 84th minute to cut the deficit to one goal but the Neapolitans could not get back in the game.

While speaking at the post-match press conference, Spalletti rued the one-on-one chances that Osimhen could not convert for Napoli.

The Napoli manager said: “We had tried to take advantage of Osimhen’s one-on-one but we were not precise and we stretched a little."

Spalletti praised his side for coming out stronger in the second half, stressing that they had a better grip of the match at 1-1 but a mistake provided Fiorentina with the lead at 2-1 and poor management led to the third goal.

Spalletti explained: "In the second half, we came back well, we were managing the game after the draw and then on a ball that we played many times in the first half. they built the goal. 

"Then it was all more difficult, we had rough management on their third goal. At 1-1, we had the game in hand.”

Napoli missed the chance to go top of the table with their defeat at home but they were spared their blushes when AC Milan played a goalless draw with Torino later in the day.

Inter Milan now have the advantage in the Serie A title race with 66 points, a game in hand, and a better goal difference than AC Milan in first with 69 points. Napoli are third with 66 points.

Osimhen took his season tally to 16 goals and five (5) assists in all competitions with his goal and assist against Fiorentina despite his injury concerns before the match.