Allegri: Arsenal Have Almost No Weaknesses, Their Overall Defensive Coordination Is Flawless

At 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on September 10, Napoli will host Arsenal in the first round of the Champions League league phase. Ahead of the match, Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri attended a press conference, and this article covers the second half of the press conference.

Arsenal have been especially good at stopping opponents' counterattacks. In last Sunday's match, Declan Rice tracked back desperately and used a smart foul to bring down an opposing player, stopping the forward move. Did you notice this? Do you think Arsenal are currently the team in Europe best at using these 'smart and discreet tactical fouls' to cut off opponents' counterattacking chains?

I think Arsenal are a team with almost no weaknesses, extremely complete and balanced. I think Arteta is excellent; he reacts very quickly tactically, making rapid adjustments and building a rock-solid defensive system. In fact, Arsenal are also among the teams that have conceded very few goals. When they defend as a unit, their coordination is seamless and nearly perfect.

You mentioned that Arteta has done incredible work at Arsenal. I am curious: what do you think is the most important tactical achievement Arteta has accomplished with Arsenal?

As I emphasized earlier, I think Arteta's greatest strength is that he quickly instilled a perfect balance between attack and defense in the team. They are extremely dangerous when they have possession, but when they need to drop back, their defensive strength and resilience are even more impressive. This has gone beyond tactics; it is a spirit of determination and a strong will that he has successfully instilled deep into the identity of this team.

I would like to ask you about Rasmus Hojlund. He experienced a very difficult and challenging period in England, but recently his performances have improved significantly. How do you view his level and potential as a striker? How much room for growth and improvement do you think he still has in the future?

Sorry, I didn't hear the name you mentioned clearly just now... You mean a player with room to grow? Ah... it was Hojlund! Okay, I didn't understand the name just now. Yes, that's right, Hojlund is still very young, only 23 years old. I think he has unlimited potential for growth, especially in terms of finishing ability. The purity of his technical movements can still be further refined. He is a young man with great ambition and a strong desire to learn and improve, so he definitely has the ability to achieve it, and he will do so in the future.

Coach, Kevin De Bruyne has come off the bench in the first three league matches. Is he ready to start now? Also, how has his physical condition been since returning from the World Cup?

But Kevin De Bruyne is an extraordinary player. He only returned to the team on August 5, and he came on as a substitute in the first three matches. Tomorrow, he is very likely to start.

Coach, in your previous answer — if the translation was accurate — you described Arsenal as the 'best team' at the moment. Do you think they are currently the strongest team in the world? Are they the biggest favorites to win this season's Champions League?

Regarding the Champions League, we have to wait until March next year and see the injury situations and competitive form of the various teams. During the intense knockout stages, you also need some luck to ensure all your key players are available. However, there are indeed many powerful elite clubs right now: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and others. Many top teams can compete for the Champions League title.

Winning the Champions League title is absolutely not easy. I was fortunate enough to reach two Champions League finals as a coach, but unfortunately I lost both of them. I hope that before the end of my coaching career, my luck in this competition can improve a little.