The city of Naples has absolutely erupted with joy following Napoli’s first Serie A title victory since the legendary days of Diego Maradona.
There’s been a sense of anticipation building for months after Napoli built up an unassailable lead at the summit of the Italian top flight.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have been exceptional in the 2022-23 campaign, by some distance the best team in Italy, and it was only a question of when – rather than if – they’d secure the Scudetto.
Napoli missed their chance to clinch the title last Sunday, when they could only muster a 1-1 draw at home to local rivals Salernitana. That just built up the anticipation further, and eventually years of waiting came to an end on Thursday evening.
Talismanic striker Victor Osimhen scored the goal that sealed the Scudetto. Udinese equalised, and Napoli only ended up drawing 1-1, but a point was enough.
“I’m thrilled with this victory,” Osimhen told reporters following the result that sealed Napoli’s title.
“I’m happy for me, for the team and for the fans.
“I can’t wait to come back in Naples to embrace our fans, even though tonight I already felt the warmth of the people. I’m happy for all the Neapolitans.”
Napoli have a reputation as one of the most feverishly-supported clubs in world football and they certainly lived up to that reputation after the final whistle at the Stadio Friuli sparked wild scenes of pandemonium – with a wild pitch invasion there and fireworks back home.
“The problem for those accustomed to working hard the way I did is that we struggle to fully enjoy victories. There is always more work to be done, so the joy is fleeting,” Spalletti told DAZN following the 1-1 draw in Udine.
“Seeing the Partenopei smiling and joyful is the greatest emotion for me. They are the ones who pass on their happiness. The problem was reaching this point, as when you have the feelings of an entire city weighing on your back. There are people here who will be able to get through difficult moments in their lives because they remember this moment. These people deserve all the joy.
“It perhaps makes me feel more relaxed now, we’ve been able to give them that joy. These fans have seen huge coaches come and go. They saw Diego Armando Maradona play and perhaps his protection is also felt in this success. So it becomes difficult then to tell them, yes we finished third last season and were challenging for the title.”
Here are 15 of our favourite…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football365…