LOTS OF WORK — So Napoli has returned. With difficulty, but he managed to win after two months and more of abstinence. The last victory was obtained on 19 October last, when he beat Verona at San Paolo (2-0). Since then, the involution has been a constant, the collapse has been general, so much so that the first to lose was Carlo Ancelotti who paid the autumn flop with exemption. Sassuolo's victory has the value of a soup, nothing more, because Gattuso himself has admitted that this Napoli is still sick and that there will be much work to be done to get it back on its feet. Two unsuccessful months opened a technical crisis that had no precedent in the last decade and generated problems on problems: from the team's insubordination to the fines issue. In short, Gattuso has found a broken environment, with players on the verge of a nervous breakdown, which with their mediocre performance, have pushed Napoli to the underworld: at -18 points from the pair Juventus and Inter, who commands the championship; and above all -11 from the Champions League area.

Gattuso will gather his teammates later this week for the resumption of training. The coach will have to restore splendor to some players who have been a shadow of themselves in recent times. The cases of Insigne and Fabian Ruiz are the most striking: without them Napoli loses quality and importance in the last 20 meters. And if the team resumes the race, Gattuso can hardly wait for them. Especially since Mertens and Elmas, on Sunday evening, were the architects of the victory against Sassuolo. Their entry in the second half restored the game's liveliness and brilliance. The three points of Reggio Emilia are very heavy, not so much for the ranking, but for the morale of the group. Restoring continuity to results is now the top priority beyond who goes on the pitch. This is Gattuso's creed and must be followed.