UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 2): Group E

Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between SSC Napoli and Liverpool at Stadio San Paolo on October 3, 2018 in Naples, Italy.

(Oct. 2, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

Group E

Genk vs Napoli– Wednesday, 02 October 2019

Nothing about their performance in Austria was Belgian champions like for Genk. That 6-1 thrashing was the heaviest loss of the opening Champions League night and the writing is on the wall. They just have to improve very quickly if they are to make this UCL season a favorably memorable one. Tanzanian skipper, Mbwana Samatta was one of their positives in that loss to Salzburg, scoring a landmark goal for the Tanzanians. It, however, doesn’t help their cause that their next opponent is Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli who beat defending champions Liverpool 2-0 on matchday 1. It could get worse before it gets better for Genk who have to stop the attacking talents of Hirving Lozano and the big center forward, Fernando Llorente.

Liverpool vs Red Bull Salzburg– Wednesday, 02 October 2019

The Reds haven’t started their UCL title defense as well as their 2019/20 Premier League title hunt. Seven wins in seven matches mean they are the only remaining side with a perfect record in England and their 1-0 weekend win over Sheffield United was their 16th consecutive Premier League win. On Wednesday, they, however, have to come from the shadows when they welcome high flying Salzburg to Anfield. The Austrian champions led by the historic American gaffer should be informed about the uniquely hostile atmosphere that is Anfield on a Champions League night. They will need to be humble, put aside their 6-1 win over Genk aside and deal with attacking triad that is Salah, Mane and Firmino.

Liverpool themselves will need to be cautious when they go for the win as the teenage hattrick hero on his debut night, Erling Haland will be lurking.

UEFA Champions League Preview(Matchday 1): Group E

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool battles for possession with Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between SSC Napoli and Liverpool at Stadio San Paolo on October 3, 2018 in Naples, Italy.

(Oct. 2, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

Napoli vs Liverpool - Tuesday 18 September 2019

The controversy surrounding the state of Stadio San Paolo has been a cause of major concern before a big UEFA League group stage clash between Napoli and Liverpool. Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti flagged the issue in a statement calling out the Naples municipality on the unfinished renovations at the stadium that could also include the dressing rooms. Naples start their campaign with a monster of an opponent, reigning champions Liverpool and Premier League table toppers with a shining perfect record. The encounter will be a replay of last season’s Group C clash between Liverpool and Napoli, which was a close tie marginally decided in favor of the Reds. Fortunately for Napoli, the condition of their stadium does not reflect the current state of the squad which has made a big comeback in recent years. Napoli has the potential to serve us with a hard-fought UCL game as one of the inform Serie A teams who actually finished second in 2018/2019.

Red Bull Salzburg vs Genk- Tuesday 18 September 2019

Genk’s new signing Paul Onuachu is expected to play a vital role in the team’s success in the UEFA League campaign as they start their campaign against Red Bull Salzburg. The Nigerian international joined the Belgian champions for a fee of around €6m and scored his first goal in their 2-1 defeat to Sporting Charleroi. Onuachu will assist Mbwana Samatta, the Tanzanian striker who has been the star player for the Belgian Pro-League team. Genk face a challenging opponent in the Austrian champions whose manager Jesse Mersch has been making an impressive impact at the club. The American joined the club in April, and has to led the team to a record-breaking start to the season, with 7 wins in 7, a form that could help RB Salzburg to make an impact in Europe. Genk who have not had as good a kick-off to their domestic campaign will only hope that their talented forwards will come to the party. It’s really the Belgian vs the Austrian champions. Who will reign supreme?

Are we witnessing the resurgence of the Italian Serie A?

Gianluigi Buffon (L) and Matthijs de Ligt (R) of Juventus are seen on arrival at the stadium prior to the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China.

(July 23, 2019 - Source: Getty Images AsiaPac)

Can the Serie A really become more competitive?

Often considered to be one of the top five leagues in the world, conversations about the Serie A have continued to escalate in recent times. The attention towards the league has been vastly heightened by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of the 2018/2019 season. Ronaldo’s arrival has somewhat caused some more traction and attracted more players to come to Italy to compete. Now, with another Serie A season already here, one can’t help but wonder whether the upcoming season will be a matter of same champions, just a different season, or will the other teams step up to finally dethrone Juventus off their title. Furthermore, much will be expected from the Italian teams, particularly those participating in the UEFA Champions League, as they will be looking to bring home the trophy which has remained elusive for Italian teams for the past nine seasons. Below we have a look at the evolution of the league and possible outcomes from the new season.

One player can make all the difference

It is without a doubt that the Serie A has been gradually developing. One might be fooled to think that the league is not growing as Juventus continue to be the favorites to win every title on offer. However, that aside, one can argue that the league is growing for a number of different reasons. It is easy to underplay the effect that Ronaldo’s signing has had on Juventus and even the league. The best players are attracted to other top players, it makes the league better and more competitive. Firstly, the arrival of one of the top two best players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo shows the progressive nature of the league, as well as its ability to attract high quality players to the top flight. Undoubtedly, Ronaldo’s arrival in Italy has had many ripple effects for the league, many of which are positive. His arrival has further attracted more big name players with the likes of Matthijs De Ligt, Romelu Lukaku, Aaron Ramsey, Danilo, Diego Godin and even the veteran Franck Ribery, just to name a few. The presence of more quality players in the league will improve the competition for the league title amongst the teams, bring in more merchandise and TV money as well as provide fans with high quality football entertainment. Therefore, reasons or factors such as the above are proof of the league’s growth.

Juan Cuadrado (L) of Juventus is challenged by Marten De Roon of Atalanta during the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta BC on May 19, 2019 in Turin, Italy.

(May 18, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

How ready are the Serie A’s top sides in challenging for the Champions League?

Juventus

​Many expected that the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus would help the team finally bring the Champions League title back to Turin, but the Old Lady’s misfortunes in the tournament continued as they were put to the sword by Ajax Amsterdam in the quarterfinals of the tournament last season. Nevertheless, the main agenda for the new season is no different for this Juventus side as the UEFA Champions League title remains the ultimate goal for them. To this end, the team has made a number of changes in a bid to ready the squad for the new Champions League season. In a move that is surely to change the team’s style of play, Juventus brought in Maurizio Sarri to replace Massimiliano Allegri who left at the end of last season. The team has further been quite busy in the transfer market, signing Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot to beef up the midfield and improve the creativity in the belly of the park. Furthermore, Juve has also strengthened the team’s defence with the capture of one of the most sought after signings of the summer in Matthijs De Ligt, as well as the swap deal involving the signing of Danilo who came in place of Joao Cancelo. Combine that with the experience of Gianluiggi Buffon, as well as the presence of seasoned players like Ronaldo, Higuain and Mario Mandzukic, Juve surely have the ammunition to go all the way and win this season’s Champions League. But team depth is not the only puzzle to glory. The arrival of Maurizio Sarri is an interesting factor that can have an upside and downside. Others are worried that Sarri could take some time to settle in at Juve, and his new players may initially have problems adapting to his methods. The 60-year-old has no experience of winning top-flight titles, although he did lead Chelsea to Europa League glory last term. It therefore remains to be seen whether Sarriball will provide the right tonic and help finally bring the Champions League title to Turin for the first time in 23 years.

Rodrigo Bentancur (L) of Juventus and Nicolo Zaniolo of Roma compete for the ball during the Serie A match between Juventus and AS Roma on December 22, 2018 in Turin, Italy.

(Dec. 21, 2018 - Source: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images Europe)

AS Roma

AS Roma are in another period of transition under new manager Paulo Fonseca and the Portuguese boss is imprinting a new style upon them. The Giallorossi did poorly for their standards last season and finished sixth. Furthermore, the team waved goodbye to one of its greatest legends in Daniel De Rossi, leaving the team with a huge void to fill in terms of leadership and overall quality in the team. This season, Roma bolstered its defense with the acquisition of Leonardo Spinazzola and Gianluca Mancini. In addition, Bryan Cristante, who enjoyed success at Atalanta is expected to spearhead the midfield. Having had one of the most porous back-lines in Serie A last season, the team has also brought in a centre back, Gianluca Mancini from Atalanta who has big shoes to fill following the departure of Manolas. Moreover, the team should be pleased by the news that Edin Dzeko’s future is now sorted and the player is staying put for another season. AS Roma also received a further boost last week when Italian midfield sensation Nicolò Zaniolo penned a new five-year deal with the club. All in all, Roma’s primary focus will be fighting for a top four position and perhaps a round of sixteen qualification in the Champions League in the season following the current one.

“Juventus hired Sarri to guide them to Champions League glory, while Inter brought in the services of another former Chelsea coach in Antonio Conte. AS Roma captured the services of former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca. Only Carlo Ancelotti at Napoli and the highly impressive Gian Piero Gasperini, who led Atalanta to third position, remain unchanged.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Supporters of Inter Milan during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 20, 2010 in Milan, Italy.

(April 19, 2010 - Source: Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe)

Inter Milan

Inter seem to have taken serious measures to help the team get back to challenging for league honours. Firstly, the appointment of former Chelsea coach in Antonio Conte to replace Luciano Spalletti by the board is a statement of inten. Next to this, Inter snatched the signing of former Man United forward, Romelu Lukaku, beating rivals Juventus to his signature. Furthermore, the Nerazurri have also been able to add some experience defensively by signing former Atletico Madrid defender in Diego Godin who boasts loads of years of Champions League experience. The team further acquired the services of Nicolo Barella, Valentino Lazaro, Stefano Sensi and now imminently Alexis Sanchez, all who are expected to play a big part in this reinvented Inter squad this season. With Conte at the helm, this Inter team will most certainly be challenging for league honours and they seem to be one of the sides that can push Juventus all the way for the title.

Napoli

Napoli’s defence looks solid as a rock after their summer capture of Kostas Manolas from Roma. The Greek international will form a formidable centre-half partnership with the dependable Kalidou Koulibaly as coach Carlo Ancelotti plots to bring the league title to the city for the first time in 29 years. Napoli’s transfer window has been the quietest of the big teams in Serie A, but that doesn’t mean they were unsuccessful. The signing of Kostas Manolas gives them one of the world’s most formidable center back pairing. The rest of the world already had to deal with Napoli’s elite attack, but now they’ll also have to find ways to score against a defence that features Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly. That will be an unbelievably difficult task for any team. That move, coupled with the continued development of young talents like Fabian Ruiz, Alex Meret, and Arkadiusz Milik should make them a formidable opponent for anybody next season. Should we even mention the arrival of the dynamic Hirving Lozano?

Atalanta

The undisputed surprise packages of the 2018/2019 Serie A season. Atalanta finished third last season, the best ever in the club’s history. The pessimist out there would argue that the only place to go for them this season is down. Contrary to this, the optimists see an opportunity for more success. Most attribute the club’s success in recent times is to the team’s ability to produce youth players in abundance. Atalanta, however, have also gotten older and more experienced. In addition to striker Duvan Zapata, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men feature several newcomers in strikers Luis Muriel and midfielder Rusian Malinovskyi. This will allow the team to remain competitive both in the league and the Champions League group stages that begins next month. With their attack stronger than ever, there’s no limit to this team’s potential as they continue to shock teams across Italy. Many believe that the departure of young central defender Gianluca Mancini left a huge vacuum in their back-line that hasn’t been properly filled as of yet. Though Atalanta have been almost inactive in this transfer window, the fact that they kept a talented core together should be enough for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men to have a decent run in their maiden appearance in Europe’s biggest tournament.

Atalanta BC coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on October 7, 2018 in Bergamo, Italy.

(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images Europe)

Luring in the best gaffers

There has been a considerable number of coaching changes in the Serie A this off season. Interestingly, four of the teams that finished in the top six last year appointed new managers. Juventus hired Sarri to guide them to Champions League glory, while Inter brought in the services of another former Chelsea coach in Antonio Conte. AS Roma captured the services of former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca. Only Carlo Ancelotti at Napoli and the highly impressive Gian Piero Gasperini, who led Atalanta to third position, remain unchanged. These factors are likely to be key and become a determining factor regarding who walks away with the Serie A title come May 2020.

On paper, it looks likely to be a three-horse race for the honours this season with perennial runners-up Napoli as well as Inter, likely to push Juventus all the way. With more world class players being drawn to the league each passing season, the attractiveness of this league is moving at lighting speed. Now with all said and done, this Serie A campaign might just be one of the most exciting in years and better still, the only way for this league seems to be all the way up! Who’re you’re vouching for?

Aubameyang vs Koulibaly: The fate of the furious

For years, the UEFA Europa League has been counted as a second fiddle tournament with little to offer in terms of excitement to the biggest of European clubs. Gone are the days when the tournament was looked down upon and now the level of competition in different leagues has improved, forcing clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Napoli to participate in the tournament. The UEFA Europa League draw was held on Friday, 12 March, 2019 and it presented one of the biggest showdowns of the competition, let alone in Europe. Arsenal was matched up with Naples’ Napoli, a fixture that both teams were hoping to avoid. We look into it, focusing on the two best players from the two teams. Arsenal’s striker versus Napoli’s defender. It’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang versus Kalidou Koulibaly. Check this out.

“ If Aubameyang is the Black Panther, then Koulibaly has to be the Killmonger to the story because the battle boils down to these two. Who will take the throne when these two meet? ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

As expected, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s top goal scorer at this stage of the season with 21 goals in all competitions with 4 being from the UEFA Europa League tournament. He has been used interchangeably with Alexandre Lacazette but still has the knack for goals and delivers under pressure. It is expected that he will bring his A game against the monstrous beast of a defender in Kalidou Koulibaly.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Arsenal FC at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

In the same vein, Koulibaly has been a leader from the back at the Naples club. Koulibaly is raking up an average of 4 clearances and 2.3 blocks per match in this competition. He will be looking to shutout the goal threat in the Gabonese International who is proving a nuisance to defenders in every league he goes to. This could be a true test for both.

Also, if you had not picked it up already, both players hail from the land of Africa. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang leads the frontline for Gabon while Koulibaly takes up defensive duties for Senegal. Both players will be looking to compete for a title as they warm up for this year's African Cup of Nations 2019 tournament to be held in Egypt. Amongst them, could be a possible African Player of the Year if they do well in both ties as well as putting in stellar performances in Africa's finest tournament. I wouldn't want to miss this.

Finally, their personalities are quite the opposite. They remind me of the debate about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. One is more quiet and less expressive on the pitch with the other taking pride in making headlines from controversial goal celebrations. Koulibaly is a more reserved guy who lets his defending do the talking. He is someone who easily stands out in a match with his presence and contribution in the first third of the pitch. Whereas, Aubameyang has some fine goals in his locker which he often celebrates with a front-flip or pulling out some super-hero mask. Recently, the Arsenal striker pulled out the mask of the Black Panther and celebrated his goal in wakanda-style. If Aubameyang is the Black Panther, then Koulibaly has to be the Killmonger to the story because the battle boils down to these two. Who will take the throne when these two meet?

I think Arsenal vs Napoli came too soon but it will be a great spectacle. Especially to see these two players go toe to toe against each other in their quest for titles. My bet is on Aubameyang. Where is yours?

The pursuit of justice for racial abuse on Kalidou Koulibaly continues

We cannot not deny the impact of the efforts that have been made by the responsible authorities over the years to curb racism but still, players of color often receive this kind of abuse on and off the pitch. On the 26th of December 2018, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was a subject of racial abuse in a match with local rivals, Inter Milan. We have been made to believe that the due process to deal with such issues is to report it to the FIFPro and UEFA who will launch a probe on the matter before making a decision. However, no action has been taken so far against the disrespectful fans. Here’s a recap.

The incident

Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between SSC Napoli and Liverpool at Stadio San Paolo on October 3, 2018 in Naples, Italy.

(Oct. 2, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

The Senegalese defender was at his job on a typical matchday Sunday in the Italian Serie A before the unfortunate incident took place. Some of the Inter Milan fans started making monkey noises directed at Kalidou Koulibaly in the match. The player was then sent off after picking up 2 yellow cards. He was suspended for two matches as punishment for sarcastically clapping off the referee after receiving marching orders. In the aftermath, Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti came out to say that they made calls to end the match after hearing the abuse but it fell on deaf ears. He was not pleased with the way the officials handled the matter in the game.

Koulibaly’s support system

Not so long after, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba wore an armband in support of Kalidou Koulibaly after the incident. The player’s message was clear and directed to the perpetrators who are fighting against the game’s values of honor, tolerance and respect. He was not the only one to show much needed support to the player. Even the Inter Milan coach, Luciano Spalletti was quoted to having said, “We were with Koulibaly, as we are at the side of all those who are targeted during the games.”

Also, fellow African Faouzi Ghoulam of Napoli wore Koulibaly’s No 26 shirt in the warm up for the game against Bologna in which the defender was suspended. He was joined by the fans who held up anti-racism banners and photos of Koulibaly.  

Ancelotti’s threat

Carlo Ancelotti has since threatened to lead his team off the pitch if there is a repeat of such an incident. There is no place for racism in the game of football and everywhere else. He said, “The boy was on edge, he's an educated footballer who was targeted. What happened today was bad, not only for us but also for Italian football.”

The authorities’ actions

The Italian League judge gave the verdict that Inter Milan would play the next two home matches behind closed doors. This means that their supporters would not be allowed to populate the stadiums and support their club. Also, the verdict included a partial closure for the club’s third home game.

However, the culprits who led the chants have not been punished. The Italian FA should do more and make sure that these fans are banned from the stadium for life.

10 January Transfers Everyone Wants To See: #7 Kalidou Koulibaly

No matter how good some players are, football players or otherwise – they kind of need a bigger turf or neighbourhood to show that they belong, to prove that they have the “it” factor. Such is the story of some of the most exciting professional footballers in the game today, they can only become as big as the club they play for and we have a few names that many would want to see move to other pastures. Some have been rumoured away from their clubs and some haven’t but sooner rather than later, transfers are inevitable. Number seven is someone who needs no introduction.

Napoli and Senegalese centre-back has been linked with a move away from Naples for quite some time now. It’s almost cliché and somehow not far from boring to hear his name amongst the transfer rumours, week in and out. He is really that good to be honest, everyone wants him and all are eager to see how he will shape up in a bigger club. Liverpool’s big money acquisition of Virgil Van Dijk is paying dividends to the Merseyside club who conceded just 7 goals in 18 premier league matches, the least in the league, consequently leading to a fireproof title charge. Similarly, Koulibaly is a rare find that falls in the bracket of the Dutch if not better and evidence from Merseyside have reiterated that timeless truth, “strikers win games, but defenders win titles.” Manchester United reportedly had their £90 million bid rejected, which would have become the world record transfer for a defender and the all-time African transfer record and Chelsea has endured the same fate in their pursuit of the 27-year-old. He is right there at the top with the best when it comes to minding the goal, everyone knows it and would give anything to get him who can turn any top side into capable title contenders.

Kalidou has a midfielder attitude on the ball, a firefighter mentality when under attack by an opponent and never shies away from an opportunity to put any opponent under siege –almost unreal but undisputedly endowed in many ways than one. I am reminded of one scenario during Napoli and PSG’s 1-1 stalemate in the champions league, Neymar sent Mbappe through with a delicious ball, Koulibaly tracked down the pacey forward and jumped in front of him, hooking the ball out of his way in the process. It was the kind of tackle that, if one is a fraction of a second late, they may win themselves a red card, a perfectly timed intervention that only players like Kalidou can make.

Paulo Dybala of Juventus battles for the ball with Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli during the Srie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: gabriele maltinti/Getty Images Europe)

“Kalidou has a midfielder attitude on the ball, a firefighter mentality when under attack by an opponent and never shies away from an opportunity to put any opponent under siege –almost unreal but undisputedly endowed in many ways than one.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Is there a big club who does not want Napoli & Senegalese's Koulibaly?

“Chelsea tried their luck with €100 million but it was not enough to tempt the Italian club. The response was a straight up “Koulibaly is not for sale.””

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli in action during the serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on August 25, 2018 in Naples, Italy.

(Aug. 25, 2018 - Source: Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images Europe)

When I was growing up, all I knew was that nothing sells better than hot cookies on a cold day. But, now that I am this old I have realized that talent sells more than anything in soccer. Kalidou Koulibaly has seen this “my phenomenon” come true in his life, as every day, he and Napoli have to continuously reject big European clubs that want to add him to their squads. What is it that these clubs are really looking to get from the Senegalese defender?

A precious gift for Mourinho after failing to land Alderweireld
Jose Mourinho and the Red Devils, did not even go behind the walls to admit this but backed his wish to have the 27-year-old Senegalese defender in his team by tabling an £80 million offer.  Even though this is an incredible price for a defender (which would surpasses the world record defender fee of £75m), reports insist that Napoli player demanded £90 million for what they have groomed with intricate care. It is not, however, clear if the Red Devils will succumb to this demand but all we know is that, right now, Koulibaly is still doing bits at Napoli.

Chelsea have their eyes on him
During the World Cup, Chelsea also had their eyes set on the Senegalese “wall,” impressed by Koulibaly’s physique that enables him to make short passes while keeping an eagle’s eye on the opponent. He was voted amongst the Top 11’ at the annual Oscar del Calcio gala last November. Chelsea tried their luck with €100 million but it was not enough to tempt the Italian club. The response was a straight up “Koulibaly is not for sale.”

Even Liverpool wanted a piece of Koulibaly
At some point before acquiring the Virgil Van Dyk in a current record deal for a defender Liverpool also tried their luck with a £36.7million bid and they too got the same rejection. Even though Koulibaly did express that he would be interested in playing for a Premier League club (not specifically Liverpool), right now he has to stay with Napoli. But will he really?

Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain is challenged by Mario Rui and Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and SSC Napoli at Parc des Princes on October 24, 2018 in Paris, France.

(Oct. 23, 2018 - Source: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe)

The catch
If the player is in such high demand, why can’t his club really let him go? The player has a contract that obligates him to be with Napoli until the June of 2023 so that is why his club has such a strong grip on his negotiations. At least, all these clubs have about 5 years to sweeten their deals, polish their approaches and spice up their baits until they get hold of this player. The player is also personally committed to the team and his coach. He was reported saying, my coach “rediscovered me, he gave me confidence. He really is a genius, he sees things others don’t see. He makes you understand how football is and isn’t predictable.”

After all is said and done, take my word for it, it looks like it’s going to become increasingly harder to keep the one of the world’s finest of not “the finest”. A potential move is imminent. The real question is when?

UCL Matchday 3 Preview: After Salah and Co. struggled with Koulibaly, next up is the challenge of PSG's 'MEN'

Paulo Dybala of Juventus battles for the ball with Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli during the Srie A match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Allianz Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Turin, Italy.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: gabriele maltinti/Getty Images Europe)

Here at FirstTouch, our affection and appreciation for Napoli and Senegalese centre back, Kalidou Koulibaly has never been a secret. Time and time again, we have made cases as to why he is one of the best centre backs in the world of soccer today. On one of the biggest stages to showcase yourself as a footballer, the UEFA Champions League, the 27-year-old Senegalese has done even more than that. On matchday 2 of the 2018/19 Champions League campaign, Kalidou was one of the focal points as Napoli outplayed Liverpool to a 1-0 win. In partnership with Raul Albiol, He got the better of both Salah and Sadio Mane. That is, ⅔ of the infamous FAB 3 at his mercy on the day. Wednesday is another opportunity for the Senegalese to bring all his doubters to salvation.

The UEFA Champions League matchday 3 is on us and Napoli will travel to Paris. It’s one of those fixtures you just have to look forward to. Paris St Germain have all the rights to be more than confident heading into this one especially after being the only European club remaining, that has won all its domestic league matches. That is 10 wins in 10 French Ligue 1 matches for PSG. Their weekend fixture against Amiens, where they ran away 5-0 winners is the perfect momentum anyone needs heading into a match of this magnitude. Before that one, Mbappe bagged four goals as they ran riot over Lyon in another 5-0 demolition. Still rolling back the days, Tuchel’s men had beat Red Star Belgrade 6-1 on matchday 2 of the UCL.  A welcome result after the opening loss to Liverpool at Anfield. Napoli have not been bad either, winning all their last three matches in all competitions and more importantly in the Koulibaly conversation, keeping a clean sheet in all the three matches. They currently sit second on the Italian Serie A table, four points behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus.

“Kalidou was one of the focal points as Napoli outplayed Liverpool to a 1-0 win. In partnership with Raul Albiol, He got the better of both Salah and Sadio Mane. That is, ⅔ of the infamous FAB 3 at his mercy on the day. Wednesday is another opportunity for the Senegalese to bring all his doubters to salvation. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on September 18, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 17, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

As far as the champions league is concerned, Napoli occupy first position of group C with four points. A win in France would consolidate their position at the top ahead of Liverpool and PSG who both have 3 points. And would surely put them in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages before the return leg in Naples. What’s also true is that all of PSG’s investments and efforts have been towards winning a UCL trophy. With their form and the deadly trio of Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar, nicknamed MEN, expected to lead their attack on Wednesday, entertainment is almost guaranteed.

It goes without saying that PSG will most likely dominate possession and push through for a win with everything. A draw away from home, will not be so bad for table topping Napoli. Central to a solid Napoli performance to deny MEN, will be the Senegalese mountain man and his defensive partners. He has done it before against Liverpool’s fast and counter attacking FAB 3, my money will be on the African centre back repeating the same feat on Wednesday.

Is Senegal's Koulibaly the best CB in Italy?

Often times soccer fans debate about the best players in the world which usually boils down to either Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo who recently joined Juventus in Italy. This is usually because these players are consistent in scoring goals and matches are won by goals. Consequently, not much recognition is given to midfielders who create those chances let alone defenders who protect the back as the team attacks. Because of that, FirstTouch makes a conscious effort to appreciate the contribution of defenders to the game. In this piece, we look at a certain Senegalese centre back by the name Kalidou Koulibaly and compare him among the best defenders in Italy and the rest of the world.

Background

“Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The Napoli defender currently valued at €100m was born in France to Senegalese parents and identifies as African. He began his professional career at Metz in 2010 before joining Genk, the club that nurtured other world class talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois in 2012. He pledged his allegiance to Senegal in 2015 although he had represented France at the Under-20 football level. He was eventually picked to solve the defensive situation at the Naples side, where he has been a consistent performer since 2014.

Koulibaly’s Strengths

Organizing the defense is part of the requirements when comparing the very best of defenders in Italy. The players have to be great at communication with their goalkeeper and the rest of defenders playing on the team. Kalidou Koulibaly is a leader in that Napoli team and has helped his team throughout the 2017/18 campaign. The best way to assess a defender’s ability to communicate is by looking into the individual errors committed by the player leading to a goal. Koulibaly was not culpable of such mistakes in the previous season and has started this 2018/19 season very well. He looks sharp and commanding at the backline next to Raul Albiol.

Robert Lewandowski of Poland is challenged by Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Poland and Senegal at Spartak Stadium on June 19, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(June 18, 2018 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Europe)

Besides, the primary role of a defender is to shield the goal and prevent the ball from going in. Koulibaly was exceptional in the 2017/18 season where he led his team to a second placed finish in the Italian Serie A. Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25. It is clear that the African defender would be the best bet among these Italian defenders because he is less likely going to put the team in trouble through committing unnecessary fouls in dangerous positions. This season as well, he leads the pack in terms of interceptions (6), blocks (2), tackles (8) and clearances (7) in just the three games that he has played. Both Chiellini and Bonucci, the so-called best defenders in the league are far behind the African star which makes us question the criteria used by the relevant authority in determining the best defender in the country.

According to Pep Guardiola, defenders in the modern era have to do more than just defending. They have to instigate the attack which means that they need to have the quality to pass the ball from the back. We also looked at this part of Koulibaly’s game comparing him to the Juventus pair. His ball playing abilities were above every other defender in the league. He made 3324 passes across all competitions compared to Chiellini’s 2196 and Bonucci’s 1951. If that is not enough, he also had the most completed passes pegged at 91%. Chiellini and Bonucci were at 87% and 86% respectively. These numbers are out of the ordinary and it is no surprise that Chelsea were rumored to have submitted a €100m bid in the summer of 2018 which was turned down by Gli Azzurri (The Blues). Kalidou Koulibaly is just quality!

Limitations

Kalidou Koulibaly of S.S.C Napoli during the international friendly game between Liverpool and Napoli at Aviva Stadium on August 4, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.

(Aug. 3, 2018 - Source: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Europe)

The only explanation for being snubbed from the conversation of the best defenders in the world boils down to the fact that Koulibaly last won a trophy 4 years ago. Many debates about the very best include the aforementioned individual statistics as well as the accolades won collectively. His club has not done him justice and he must be disgruntled seeing players like Sergio Ramos win the UEFA Best Defender Award ahead of him when he conceded more goals than him and was nowhere near the numbers achieved by the 28-year old. Maybe if Napoli become more ambitious and stop selling their best players, he might be able to mount a challenge for the biggest titles in Europe and earn his status among the best defenders.

Also, Koulibaly has had little success so far in trying to create a formidable partnership at the back with Lamine Sane at the back. The Senegalese team looks very strong on paper but somehow, they still lack that competitive edge when it matters the most. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they were the best African team at the tournament, arguably the best team in the group but they still failed to make it past the Group Stage. A lot more is expected of him from his national side.

What’s next?

Catch Koulibaly in action this international break when his side, Senegal, plays against Madagascar in the AFCON Qualifiers. He must be disappointed by his nation’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting competition on the planet. Koulibaly will be looking to guide his team to victory against the Southern African team. Senegal currently lead Group A with 3 points after having beaten Equatorial Guinea by 3 goals to nil back in June 2017. We anticipate this to be an easy victory for Senegal.

Abroad: Kalidou Koulibaly on his way to Chelsea?

Senegal and Napoli centre-back, Kalidou Koulibaly could become the world’s second most expensive defender after reports in Europe suggested that he could be leaving the Italian side. The reports cite that Chelsea are front-runners in the race to secure the Senegalese’ services and are preparing a bid of around £65 million which is only £10 million less than what Liverpool paid for Virgil Van Dijk in a world record deal for a defender.

The 26-year old has been an exceptional player for Napoli attracting interest from an array of English Premier League teams such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. He recently blew the Italian Serie A title race open by securing a 1-0 win over leaders Juventus for his club with a fine fine header. He joined Napoli in the summer of 2014 from Belgian side KRC Genk for a fee of £7 million and has made 161 appearances, scoring eight goals for the club.

Chelsea are looking to defensively strengthen a side that has typically failed to defend a Premier League title and sit in fifth place, five points adrift the final champions league spot occupied by Tottenham. They, however, have a chance to salvage some silverware, should they overcome Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Perhaps Antonio Conte’s “dark days” could end with some silver lining.

Abroad: Inter Milan chase Ghanaian midfielder, Kwadwo Asamoah

The 29-year-old’s contract will come to a close as at the end of the season and a host of Italian football giants have not been shy to honeypot him to their clubs. Inter Milan is reported to be offering the Ghanaian international, €3 million to draw him away from the Old Lady. Galatasaray and Napoli are understood to be also vying for the veteran midfielder. Kwadwo joined the Italian side, Juventus in 2012 and has won the five Serie A titles with the club.