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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

Gennaro Gattuso 'in line' for Napoli job as Carlo Ancelotti faces the sack

Former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is said to be in line to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Napoli boss.

The World Cup winner, who spent the 1997-98 season at Ibrox, has been out of work since leaving Milan at the end of last season.

But now Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting that he's in line to step in at Napoli.

It's believed that president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already reached a basic agreement with Gattuso on an 18-month contract, and he may sack Ancelotti even if the Partenopei beat Genk and qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

(REUTERS)

Napoli haven't won in nine games in all competitions, and there was already tension between the club and players after some refused to attend a punitive training camp.

Di Marzio reports that the change could be made in the next week and won't depend on tomorrow night's result.

Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League three times as a manager, was asked in his press conference ahead of the game if his bags are already packed.

He responded: "A coach must always be ready, it's normal for any coach to be questioned.

"These are things I've already seen in the past, with every team, and the thought that the club might sack me one day, or I might decide to go, doesn't scare me.

(PA)

"If certain things don't occur then I'll have to go but in that case it's right for both sides to bring things to a close.

"I've seen a lot of things but I'm thinking of the team. I feel partly responsible for this negative period, I can't pretend nothing has happened because the team hasn't given what they've shown in the Champions League.

"It'd be one thing if we just had the same bad habits all the time, but I've seen high levels in the Champions League.

"It's a period that will end but it can't go on too long - it's already gone on too long.

"If I didn’t consider myself to be the best person to resolve the situation at this club, I wouldn’t be here.”

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