The former Dutch defender and Napoli legend: “With everyone available, this team can go far. PSV? Strong, but not as strong as last year.”
He is the most Neapolitan Dutchman in football history. Ruud Krol was the first Oranje player to join Napoli: it was the 1980s, the era of a great Netherlands team and its players who were changing football at home and abroad. The Amsterdam-born defender, now 76, will watch his former team’s third Champions League match against PSV on TV and from that place close to his heart, Naples, where he returns several times a year, the city he looked down on from his home in Posillipo when he was a player and which he also discovered by living on the sea, together with the fishermen of Mergellina. Krol is a snapshot of a bygone era, but he speaks with great clarity about today’s Napoli and explains how and why tonight’s match at the Philips Stadion is decisive for both teams, albeit for different reasons. “I’ve seen both teams in good form. However, Napoli has many injured players, and Conte has to deal with absences every game. It’s difficult that way… But when I look at PSV, I see a very similar problem. They sold six new players and bought six new ones last summer. So it’s synonymous with growth, yes, but slow growth. And then it’s no longer last year’s team, the one that won the title by beating Ajax at the last second.”
What is it about PSV that doesn’t convince you?
“They have a problem with their number 9. They have injuries up front, and I don’t know if either of their two center forwards will be available anytime soon. Maybe one of them will be able to play during the game, but it’s highly doubtful.“ What kind of opponent are they right now for Napoli, coming off a loss and a win in the Champions League? ”They’re a strong team that always wants to play a certain style of soccer. I know Bosz well, I saw him when he was studying to be a coach, I know his playing philosophy and I know what he asks of his teams. His ideal formation is always 4-3-3. I really like the wingers, both Salah-Eddine and Sergiño Dest; it’s in midfield that, in my opinion, they are a bit weak.”
What do you like about Conte’s Napoli?
“There have been changes, but I would focus on another aspect and come back to the absentees, who I will list: Politano, then Buongiorno and Hojlund, Lukaku, Rrahmani and Lobotka too… Ultimately, if we think about it, we have not yet seen Antonio Conte’s ideal formation, with all the players available. With everyone at 100%, Napoli is a very strong team.“
Looking at the Champions League standings, however, the match is more delicate for PSV…
”Bosz has reiterated it, and I agree: it’s decisive for them. They need to get points. If they lose again, and do so at home, their Champions League campaign risks being compromised.”
Conte or Bosz: who will prove to be more skilled in such delicate situations and matches?
“For Bosz, only one thing matters: attacking. And it’s clear that to win, you need a strong and clinical attack. Conte too, but there are times when the absentees make almost more of a difference than the players available. Then we also see the Azzurri attack: Lucca, for example, is someone who can launch the team on the counterattack, and this could be the key to surprising PSV and, above all, to winning. Conte is coming here just for this.”
Napoli has two Dutch players in its squad, the first being Beukema, who arrived from Bologna. How do you see him in this team?
“It was easy for Sam to settle in because he already knew the Italian league since he played there. However, we are talking about two very different teams, different cities, different ambitions, and different environments. In Naples, much more is expected of the team and the individuals, and winning is all that matters. Even if you play badly, the important thing is to get the result. That’s the mentality.”
Did you give him any advice?
“Yes, I talked to him and told him everything, starting with the fact that it’s a beautiful city and that people love you if you play a certain way. And he liked Napoli right from the start.”
And the other Dutchman is Lang.
” Everyone thought he was a new Kvaratskhelia, but he’s not. The Georgian is a star player. Noa has something, but lately I’ve seen him struggling physically. It’s Italian soccer… He needs to move, but now he’s playing without the same confidence he had in the Netherlands. He needs time to get back to his level and have an even stronger mentality to be able to emerge in a reality like Napoli.”
He broke the deadlock against Torino, but then the goal was disallowed…
“And that was a shame. I focused a lot on his celebration after that goal: there was a lot of frustration and a great sense of relief, but unfortunately he was offside.”
Is the defeat against Torino one of those that motivates or could have repercussions?
“It will motivate Conte and the whole Napoli team even more. Simeone’s goal was a defensive error, but that’s football, and against PSV, the team will take to the field thinking only of winning another three points and creating more great European memories.”
Speaking of memories, when you think of your time at Napoli…
The UEFA Champions League, with 185 out of 203 games per season, exclusively streamed on NOW.
“Every day I made wonderful memories. It was unlike any other experience I’d ever had. I came from Dutch soccer, then I went to American soccer, and then I arrived in Serie A, full of champions and phenomenal players. Every time I entered the San Paolo stadium, I got goosebumps. And even now, when I think back on it.”
