Mourinho cedes Scudetto to Napoli, congratulates Partenopei

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By Martin Graham | 30th Jan 2023

Jose Mourinho believes that Napoli have already won Serie A. The Roma coach has congratulated the Partenopei, though the season is still halfway.

The season is only halfway gone in Serie A, but Napoli are already looking like champions. The Serie A leaders started the season like a barn on fire. They have continued to power on despite the distraction of the World Cup. Napoli seems to be in a league of their own. There is a class gulf between the league leaders and the other teams.

Last season, the Partenopei finished in third place after starting well. They do not want to make the mistakes of last season and are not taking any game for granted. With defending champions AC Milan and Inter Milan breathing down their necks, the league leaders want to ensure a healthy gap between them and their rivals.

Luciano Spaletti has built a formidable side that is not letting up. They have advanced to the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League and are looking like champions-elect. The Partenopei will take on AS Roma on Sunday, and their manager Jose Mourinho has congratulated Napoli on winning the Scudetto.

Mourinho congratulates Napoli

The season is halfway in Serie A, and Napoli sits atop the table. The runaway leaders are regarded in certain quarters as league champions even though the season is not over. Ahead of their clash with AS Roma this Sunday, Jose Mourinho has congratulated the Partenopei on wrapping up the Serie A title.

Napoli are ten points ahead of their closest rival, Inter Milan, and leads third-placed AC Milan by 12 points. After playing 19 games, Gil Azzurri has won 16 games and lost only once. Only two teams have performed this feat after 19 games in Serie A history. Napoli becomes the third after Juventus (three times) and Inter Milan (once).

Mourinho does not think there is any team that can stop Gil Azzurri from clinching the title. When both teams clash at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this Sunday, Roma will try to slow down their momentum. Even if they win, Mourinho believes they have all it takes to win Serie A and has offered his congratulations.

What Mourinho said

In congratulating the Partenopei, Mourinho said Napoli deserved to be champions, as they have already won the Scudetto. The Portuguese coach made the statement at Saturday’s pre-match press conference.

He praised the team led by Luciano Spaletti. He continued that in Spaletti, they have an excellent coach who has built a fantastic team. The gap between them and their closest rival is an indication that there are no teams that scares them. Mourinho opined that the Scudetto is theirs.

However, Mourinho claims that when the two sides clash, they will not roll over for them. He said they would fight for the three points, but it would not matter as the championship is theirs to lose.

In their last nine Serie A matches against Roma, Napoli are unbeaten in eight. Their only defeat came in November 2019 (a 2-1 loss at Stadio Olimpico).

Mourinho has a poor winning record against Spalletti. Among the ten coaches he has faced at least four times in Serie A, he boasts a 20 per cent win record against Spalletti.