Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia have not reached their levels of last season, and Napoli have suffered as a result
Former Italian striker Stefan Schwoch has stated that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have to start performing at their optimum levels for Napoli to return to their previous best, Soccernet.ng reports.
Napoli took Italy by storm last season, winning 28, drawing six, and losing just four games in the run-up to their first Scudetto win since 1980.
A major fuel for their success was their attack, which produced 77 goals, the most in the Italian top-flight. Of the 77 goals, 26 were from Nigerian striker Osimhen, while 12 were from Kvaratskhelia.
Unfortunately, this season, Napoli have not reached their levels of last season. The Partenopeans currently sit 5th in the Serie A, with 28 goals after 16 games.
Osimhen struggled at the start of the season, but he has still produced seven goals. Kvaratskhelia has also been decent, chipping in with five goals.
The club struggled when Rudi Garcia was coach, but they seem to be returning to form since Walter Mazzari took over in November.
Former Italian striker Schwoch, who played for Napoli while they were in Serie, recognises the importance of Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, and he believes that the club can only function when both players are at their best.
“To return to certain levels, Napoli must rediscover the performances of elements such as Kvara (Kvaratskhelia) and Osimhen, Schwoch said per Napoli Magazine.
“The two look for each other much more than before and are finding an acceptable physical condition. The team's leap in quality passes through these two attackers.”
The season is almost halfway through, but Osimhen can still help Napoli salvage a trophy. The Nigerian striker has been in great form recently, and if he can sustain it, he could surpass his records of last season.
