Manna disagrees: "Napoli-Verona? The referee was poorly influenced by VAR, that's how matches are distorted."

NAPLES. "We're experiencing an unhappy moment in history when it comes to refereeing matters. It's clear that there are objective problems characterizing this championship." Giovanni Manna doesn't mince his words, and after Napoli-Verona he points the finger at a system that, instead of helping, continues to stir up controversy. “What happened to us is clear for all to see: the referee played a good match, but he was negatively influenced by VAR.”

Napoli's sporting director, speaking on Radio CRC, reiterated a key concept shared by many in the industry. "We've always hoped and believed that VAR could be a help to referees, but right now it's penalizing them. After such lengthy reviews, failing to make the right decision and influencing the outcome of a match is unacceptable." A criticism that goes beyond the Maradona episode. “I'm referring to what happened to us on Wednesday, but also to what's happening on other grounds and for other teams.”

The message to The Hague is direct. "We, the industry, also need to think about what's happening and how we can improve this situation. We're living in challenging times right now." Then the pitch, the draw with Verona and the feeling of a missed opportunity. "We're coming into this game on the back of an extremely positive period, with some very well-played games. A less energetic first half may have been a factor, but the team responded, didn't want to lose, and equalized. For me, though, we lost two points due to the dynamics of the match."

Manna defends the group and looks forward. “The group has always reacted and worked correctly, always producing great performances.” All eyes turn to San Siro and the match against Inter. "We're facing a very strong opponent who's enjoying their best period of the season. It'll be a tough match, but I'm sure we'll be ready." No headlong rush on the title. "It's not a key match for the Scudetto, but it's as important as any other, because every match is worth three points. We must stay focused on our goals and not let external factors influence us."