Flashscore Exclusive: Montella on Napoli - Roma - ''It's the derby of the heart''

Between walks on the Adana Lake and long training sessions, Vincenzo Montella (48) continues his adventure in Turkey. In the city of two million inhabitants, 'a cross between East and West', as the former national team striker defines it, he has been trying to transform Turkish football in his own small way for almost two years.

Last year, as a newly-promoted team, his team stunned insiders and fans alike, finishing in the top half of the Super Lig table. This year, the former aeroplanino does not want to stop impressing and hopes to get his team off the ground in Europe.

Until last week, Adana Demispor were third in the standings, but the home draw with Giresunspor and the victories of their pursuers (Basaksehir, Besiktas and Trabzonspor) have momentarily sent them down to sixth place.

But everything is still possible. Third place, the last place needed to enter European competitions, is only three points away. The fight for the top spot is more complicated, a matter that now seems to be the business of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, first and second respectively: "These two teams," admits Montella, "have a superior squad."

Montella added: "It makes more sense to do our duty until the end and be competitive. They are better equipped than us. Last year they did not do very well and this year they have invested a lot.

"Galatasaray signed (Mauro) Icardi (29), (Sergio) Oliveira (30) and (Lucas) Torreira (26) and Haris Seferovic (30) on the bench.

"Fenerbahce also has top players like (Enner) Valencia (33), who made the World Cup, and (Josh) King (31), a great striker, in attack.

"They aim for other goals, although we are not satisfied. Our fans are happy because we are competitive and we play well, have been since last year'.

In a league that is balanced in the fight for European positions, Montella's team will have to be competitive until the end.

"The difference will be in the details, we have sold our best player and it is not easy," admits the former striker, who as a player scored a plethora of goals, many from the footballing film library: the strikes in the Roma shirt against Lazio and Milan to recall a few.

And he, one of the stars of the 1990s and early 2000s of the Capitoline team, will experience a personal derby on Sunday, albeit from afar.

Napoli and Roma face each other on the first day of the second half of the season in a clash that has many interesting aspects. For Montella, born in Castello di Cisterna, a town in the province of Naples, it will be a true "derby of the heart".

Not only because of his Giallorossi past, but also because of the unbridled passion of his daughter... who has become - says Montella - a strong Roma fan: "Derby of the heart? Definitely yes, my origins are in Naples, my adolescence in Naples and my family lives there, and then Roma, my second home."

Montella left Naples as a young boy, at the age of 12, to join the youth team of Empoli, the team that would later launch him into professional football.

But that bond with Naples, and Napoli, has never been broken: "The Napoli team reflects the city in all its facets, so you can never detach yourself from it. If you detach yourself from Napoli you detach yourself from Naples. In any case, I don't know if I can call myself a true fan, I certainly sympathise with the Azzurri and when I'm not involved I'm happy if Napoli wins."

A veiled declaration of love from the current Adana coach who, after the clashes of recent weeks, is keen to send a message to the two fans: "I hope nothing happens. It is a pity that the two fans are not twinned like in the past. I really hope that it will be a match where there is fun, that everything goes well and that the best team wins."

Looking at the league table, Napoli would seem to be the favourite, but the former Giallorossi player, who has never worn the shirt of his city, does not expect a one-sided affair.

"It will not be an easy match for Napoli. As often happens, I think it will be decided by an episode or the play of an individual player."

Among those 'on fire' are undoubtedly the two most in-form strikers of both teams: "Osimhen is in an extraordinary moment, as is Dybala. Tactically it's difficult to say what kind of match it will be, certainly Napoli's outfielders are very dangerous."

The key could be precisely in that part of the pitch: "Roma will have to try to block the outside advances and the speed of Napoli," added Montella.

Napoli v Roma will also be the challenge between Spalletti and Mourinho, two managers that Montella knows very well. With the former he played at Empoli and later also coached at both Empoli and Roma. With the second, on the other hand, he has crossed paths as an opponent on a few occasions, also positive ones for the coach from Campania.

Like when, in the Sevilla dugout, he was able to eliminate the Mourinho's Manchester United in the round of 16 of the Champions League: "Mourinho, even on that occasion, he showed himself to be great. At the end of the match he had the strength to come and congratulate us in the dressing room. He showed his greatness, in addition to being used to winning he showed us that he also knows how to accept defeat."

The work he is doing in Rome, according to Montella, who knows that environment very well, is of a high level. In Rome, in fact, a coach in addition to managing on the pitch must be able to manage the mood of the fans.

This is an ability that Mourinho has also shown to have in the capital: 'Mourinho was able to do a great job in Rome. It was not easy to demonstrate his skill. He managed to isolate the team and unite the public, an uncommon characteristic'.

From one winning coach to another who hopes to achieve his first national success. Spalletti, according to Montella, is currently one of the best coaches around in Europe.

He explained: "I have said it many times and now I am more and more convinced. I hope that after an extraordinary career he can win the Scudetto in Italy.

"He deserves it. We don't talk to each other often but it has happened and happens that we see each other," the Adana coach concludes. "They came to Turkey for the tour and we saw each other. There is always mutual affection between us."