After the 3-2 defeat against Chelsea that cost Napoli elimination from the Champions League, Giovanni Di Lorenzo is not looking for excuses and points the finger at the Azzurri's European campaign. «Maradona's applause at the end of the match? They are always with us regardless of the result, but we knew that. We wanted to win tonight and play a great match. It's a shame, but we certainly didn't lose tonight.»
The Italian defender acknowledges the value of the performance against the English, but broadens his gaze to previous matches. «We made too many mistakes along the way, we dropped too many points, it's a shame because tonight despite the result we played an excellent match, we tried to keep the pace high and put pressure on them, it's a shame about the result».
Di Lorenzo doesn't even hide behind his physical difficulties and his busy schedule. "It's not easy when the same players are playing every three days, but it shouldn't be an excuse or an alibi. We hope someone comes back as soon as possible to lend a hand." Then a look to the future and the young players called upon to take on heavy responsibilities, like Vergara, who scored a great goal against Chelsea. "He's a talented guy, physically strong despite not being the biggest. He's got this opportunity now due to injuries, and he needs to make the most of it. He needs to keep working. He scored a great goal tonight. He needs to keep working hard, cover his ears, and keep working."
The worst has been averted. Giovanni Di Lorenzo has not ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, as initially feared after the injury he suffered against Fiorentina. Diagnostic tests have revealed a grade II sprain to his left knee, which will sideline the Napoli defender for approximately a month. The announcement was made…
Tension erupted last night in Naples, immediately following the Napoli-Chelsea match at the Maradona Stadium, which sealed the Azzurri's exit from the Champions League with a 3-2 victory for the Londoners. Around 1:00 a.m., two groups of ultras, one Neapolitan and the other related to the fans...
Antonio Conte is bitter but undaunted. After the defeat against Chelsea and the team's exit from the Champions League, the Napoli coach praises his team's performance and clearly identifies the outcome of the match. "The finishing made the difference. They were more clinical and more precise, and João Pedro made the difference. He's a truly important player for Chelsea."
Despite the elimination, the judgment on the race remains positive. "We're still proud and satisfied, despite half the team being out, we played, if not on par, better than them in my opinion, we deserved much better." Regret, however, also looks back at the European path. "It's a shame because the regret is for Copenhagen, we were winning and that's the game that condemned us."
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Comments (1)
Napoli have played poorly in some games, but tonight they did a good job, even if the result is disappointing. Di Lorenzo is right in saying they need to work harder to improve the situation.