SSC Napoli's thunderous 6-0 against Fiorentina brought Gattuso's team back to the top zone of the table, which could become very high after the recovery of the controversial match with Juventus.
The great performance also opened a tactical debate on the role and use of one of the most representative and talented players: the spanish Fabian Ruiz.
There is absolutely no question about the extraordinary talents and the ability of this player to raise the technical rate on the pitch.
But the Neapolitan team had already revealed the limits in midfield since last season, with the lack of a physically fit player able to help the defense in containing and recovering the ball in the nerve center of the field.
This was helped by the signings of Demme and Lobotka first, but above all that of Bakayoko, who became the pivot of the midfield, as he was absolutely able to provide those characteristics that were missing.
This year, then, with the inclusion of Osimhen and Petagna, Napoli have often changed their game setup, leaving the 4-3-3 of sarrian memory to return to a 4-2-3-1 on paper more bold.
In this module, Ruiz is used as a central midfielder, alongside Bakayoko, with the task of starting the action and taking advantage of the support of his partner in the retreat phase.
So Zielinski is increasingly used as an attacking midfielder, with the freedom to move between the lines and with the task of supporting the central striker to take advantage of his skills as a distance shooter.
But in a system in which the side backs often play forward and the wings (Lozano, Insigne, Politano) are used to wanting the ball on their feet to jump the opponents rather than attacking spaces using throws from behind or phrasing, often Ruiz found himself out of the game.
This doesn't mean that he is not a useful player for Gattuso, he would be useful for any team and any coach.
But paradoxically, at this moment when the Spaniard was stopped by Covid, the coach inserted Demme close to Bakayoko and the team found greater solidity, with the German showing that he is good at stopping opponents, but also to act as a pendulum between the midfield and the attack, with his insertions in the penalty area, which also allowed him to score a goal in the triumphant match against the Viola.
What will Gattuso think? What indications will he have drawn from this match?
Probably he has gained the awareness that his Napoli can also do without an important player like Fabian Ruiz on certain occasions, but he certainly considers the midfielder absolutely fundamental and central.
It will be necessary to see what the idea of the patron De Laurentiis will be, given that the Spanish is certainly one of the prized pieces of his team and that the requests for him are certainly not lacking.
Moreover, we know him well, he is certainly not one who misses out on good opportunities to make money. Maybe, after this game, he could start thinking about it ...
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