Mission accomplished, but with a reminder for the future. Napoli beat Qarabag and took a significant step toward the Champions League round of 16, but in the words of Scott McTominay, the key man of the evening, there's no room for facile euphoria. Only the clear analysis of a leader who knows he can give, and demand, much more.
Speaking to Sky Sport, the Scottish midfielder described a two-faced match. "We made a lot of mistakes in the opening minutes, too many for this level. We must and can improve in those situations, otherwise stronger teams will make us pay a heavy price."
Then, the mental switch that changed the game. "In the second half, we came out with a different mentality. We created a lot, we had a lot of opportunities, but... we need to score more goals. Full stop. Having chances and not closing the game out is a risk we can't afford."
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McTominay doesn't hide his ambition. His aren't just empty words, but the expression of a culture of work and results that he brought from Manchester to Naples. "I have high performance standards and high expectations of myself. I'm here to win and to give my all in every training session, in every move. Today's points are crucial, but we won't settle."
And then, a necessary step is dedicated to the fans, to that symbiotic relationship with a unique place. "The fans are truly something exceptional," he says, his tone warming. "The people of Naples have given me so much since day one. I feel their energy, their love, and this gives me an incredible boost. With this support behind us, we must have the courage to always dare, to push ourselves beyond our limits."
McTominay's message is clear: victory is important, but the performance must be near-perfect. It's the mentality of those who aim high, of those who want to compete in the Champions League not just by participating, but by being a key player. With the grit of a warrior and the composure of a goalscorer.
Comments (1)
I read the article and I think McTominay is right about there being too many mistakes in the opening minutes. It's true that the crowd is important, but without goals, it's difficult to win games. We need to improve.