Serie A: “Don’t worry”, Neapolitan president De Laurentiis reassures Rudi Garcia

Rudi Garcia can breathe. The president and owner of Naples Aurelio De Laurentiis assured Thursday that he had not thought about sacking the French technician and changing coaches during the international break.

“After the defeat against Fiorentina (3-1 at home during the 8th day of the Italian Championship, editor's note), I read everything and anything,” declared “ADL” during a conference of one-hour presser at the Napoli training center.

“If there were mistakes, I take responsibility for them, but to change coaches... I told Garcia straight in the eye: Keep doing what you're doing and don't “Don’t worry,” he continued. “Everyone makes mistakes, I hope they will not happen again,” he warned, before adding “In this case, he will have our support.”

Crowned Italian champion last season under the direction of Luciano Spalletti, Naples is 5th in the standings, seven points behind leader AC Milan, before the championship resumes this weekend.

Rudi Garcia's team has conceded two defeats in the league, three including their setback against Real Madrid (3-2) in the Champions League, all at home.

During the break, De Laurentiis met Antonio Conte, without a job since his departure last March from Tottenham, but he assured that it was not to offer him the chance to coach Napoli.

“Since we found ourselves at the same vacation spot, in the Maldives, a few years ago, we have stayed in touch. The rest is just gossip intended to weaken whoever is in charge of the team currently and that annoys me,” asserted De Laurentiis.

“A change of coach is always traumatic. And then, there are not that many coaches who prefer the 4-3-3 with a high defense,” remarked the film producer who explained “having taken back (his) place on a daily basis with (his) team” even though he had spent a lot of time away from Naples at the start of the season.