A team back to winning ways, mathematically qualified for the Champions League, but a fan base divided between those protesting against the club and the team, and those defending them. This is the atmosphere in Napoli football after the tumultuous afternoon in Frosinone, after the 2-0 win was overshadowed by the sensational protest by the ultras at the end of the match, who threw back onto the pitch the shirt Callejon had given to the fans. The image of the Spanish winger, after picking up his shirt from the ground, walking with his head down toward the locker room is a snapshot of the dismay deeply felt by the Azzurri locker room. Frosinone's win, meanwhile, has secured Champions League qualification for the fourth consecutive year, a milestone the club celebrated on social media: "Napoli is in the Champions League for the fourth year in a row, with four games to go. We've been the only Italian team in Europe for 10 years running," read a post that drew applause but also harsh criticism from some fans. "Participating is no longer enough" is the recurring theme among some fans, particularly those in the stands, who received an indirect but harsh response from the club today. Tickets for Sunday's match against Cagliari, which went on sale this afternoon, are notable for the price charged for the two stands: €30. The club hasn't confirmed any "punishment" for the ultras, as many are speculating on social media, but the price is indeed out of line with other Napoli matches at this level. High prices for the stands are only imposed for key matches like the one against Juventus (40 euros) and the Europa League match against Arsenal (45 euros). Disappointment filtered through from the Napoli locker room yesterday, from the stunned faces of the players, who felt challenged after a victory, and from the words of coach Ancelotti: "The players," he said, "were disappointed by the chants they heard from the away fans." The only one smiling at the end was Dries Mertens, who even celebrated on social media after scoring his 81st goal in Serie A, equaling Diego Maradona's tally. "Ciro," as Neapolitans call him, posted a photomontage of himself smiling over Maradona's shoulder as he celebrates a goal. "It's an honor to have something in common with the world's number one player, a symbol of Naples and Neapolitanness," Mertens wrote in a post that drove everyone crazy and that Maradona himself liked, who responded on social media: "I want to congratulate Dries Mertens on his 81 goals today. I sincerely hope he continues to score many more goals for Napoli!"
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