Miguel Gutiérrez

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

In a season of turmoil that sees SSC Napoli fighting for survival in 18th place, 24-year-old Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez has quietly emerged as a rare constant in Antonio Conte's demanding system. With 25 appearances and 1,287 minutes under his belt, the €18 million-rated defender has delivered more than just solidity—chipping in with 2 goals while maintaining a remarkable spotless disciplinary record across the campaign. Not a single yellow or red card blemishes his ledger, a testament to his composure under pressure. Gutiérrez embodies the modern overlapping full-back Conte craves: explosive pace to recover defensively, tireless runs down the left flank, and the tactical intelligence to execute complex wing-back demands. While Napoli's recent form—WWLDW with back-to-back wins—offers flickers of hope, it's the unsung contributions of squad players like Gutiérrez that provide the foundation for any resurgence. Operating in the shadow of headline names like David Neres, the Spaniard proves that consistency, not noise, often determines survival.