Ice bag on Lang’s knee halts Napoli’s training at Castel di Sangro
The decisive moment of the Ritiro Castel di Sangro Napoli camp arrived when an ice bag was applied to the left knee of forward Lang, forcing him to leave the pitch during the Day 12 session, a development that loomed over the team’s preparations for the upcoming friendly with Aris Salonicco.
Training schedule and participation
🖶 Stampa A− A+ streamed the live video of the eighteenth training, with the broadcast hosted by CalcioNapoli24 and featuring commentary from Gentili. The session, labelled CASTEL DI SANGRO (AQ), took place on Giorno 12 of the retreat and was followed by dozens of online viewers.
The camp gathered 33 players summoned by head coach Massimiliano Allegri, who arrived at the Castel di Sangro venue half an hour before the scheduled start, giving the squad a thirty‑minute head‑start on the day’s programme.
Tactical adjustments and upcoming friendly
Early drills focused on the left flank, where Lucca and Alisson struggled, De Bruyne struck the post and Cheddira and Giovane each found the net, while Prisco made a crucial save on the left side of the goal.
On the right, Politano, Hojlund, Folorunsho and Rafa Marin received the ball under pressure from two defensive silhouettes before delivering shots toward Milinković‑Savić and goalkeeper Meret, who shared duties with Pugliese.
Mid‑session the coach altered the opening mode, abandoning wide distribution in favour of central striker play, a shift that saw the attacking unit concentrate through the centre and test the forwards’ movement against a compact defence.
Players also rotated positions, with Mazzocchi following Gilmour to the changing rooms and McTominay entering without boots, while Lang and Alisson Santos swapped jerseys during a brief pause.
Tomorrow’s match against Aris Salonicco, the final friendly of the retreat, will serve as the first real test of the tactical tweaks introduced on Day 12, offering Allegri a chance to assess the squad’s readiness ahead of the next competitive phase.