Tactical Tweak Gives Hojlund Freedom to Attack Open Space at Napoli
In comments made during an interview published on September 3, 2026, Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund addressed recent public discussions surrounding his tactical utilization at Napoli following a recent fixture against Como 1907.
The striker clarified previous post-match statements regarding his positional duties, defining how adjustments to his offensive briefing allow him to exploit open space rather than acting primarily as a target man with his back to goal.
Napoli
clubHojlund Clarifies Back-to-Goal Duty Adjustment and Attack Space Freedom
Addressing media coverage following Napoli’s match against Como, Hojlund clarified his earlier remarks regarding his tactical role and positional instructions:
“I think what I said was misinterpreted and taken out of context. Last year it worked very well with me playing with my back to goal, and the team was successful. I’m happy with the work I did with Conte, but for my style of play I think I can give more to the team. I’m a quick player, I can attack the space, something I think I did a little last season but have more freedom to do this year.”
The adjustment alters how Napoli stretch opposition defensive lines. Playing back-to-goal requires a center-forward to hold up play, pinning central defenders physically to allow trailing midfielders to join the attack, whereas attacking open channels relies on blind-side runs into space behind a high defensive block. Hojlund’s option to run into depth provides a direct counter-attacking outlet while preserving structural fluidness across the front line.
Rasmus Hojlund
playerHojlund Rejects Early Title Talk and Cites Gasperini’s Tactical Influence
When asked directly whether Napoli should be considered frontrunners for the Serie A title this season, the striker distanced the squad from early Scudetto projections:
“I don’t know, I don’t know. I think this year it’s important to improve every day. We’ll see…”
Hojlund also pointed to former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini when reflecting on the tactical foundations that developed his pressing triggers and off-ball movement:
“He’s excellent, he plays offensive, quick football. He’s a coach who demands a lot, from the pressing to the movement off the ball. I learned a lot from him, I was lucky to have him at the start of my career: thanks to him I’m the player I am today.”
The focus on incremental daily progress aligns with Hojlund’s refusal to focus on individual status or title races. Gasperini’s intensive pressing system established the striker’s physical baseline, demanding high-tempo movement off the ball that now enables him to attack open channels for Napoli without diluting his defensive pressing responsibilities.
The statement directly clarifies post-match reports following the Como fixture, where initial reporting interpreted Hojlund’s comments as dissatisfaction with previous tactical setups under former manager Antonio Conte. Hojlund explicitly noted that while the back-to-goal structure under Conte yielded success, his current mandate to run into open space represents an extension of his physical strengths rather than a rejection of prior instructions.
The interview was originally published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.