Napoli were stunned as they lost 6-2 to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night, despite midfielder Scott McTominay scoring a creditable brace against their Dutch opponents. Antonio Conte's side came into the game following a 1-0 defeat to Torino and were hoping to bounce back, but were instead dealt a sobering defeat.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte believes the team should treat their Champions League experience as a "school" and fully "absorb" the lessons it offers. He wants the club to carefully assess their position in the tournament, viewing this season's European campaign as a new journey. Conte has also called for patience, emphasising that the season will largely depend on how quickly the new players settle and integrate into the team.
Antonio Conte revealed why he left out star players Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay from Napoli's matchday squad against Torino in Serie A on Saturday. The reigning Italian champions felt the absence of the former Manchester United duo as they went down 1-0 away from home, with Giovanni Simeone scoring the winning goal in the first half for the hosts.
Former AC Milan and Juventus coach Fabio Capello believes that while Napoli midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay are both top players with excellent qualities, their skill sets differ and could potentially overlap, leading to an imbalance in the squad. The Serie A champions sit joint-top of the table and picked up a first Champions League win of the season last week, but some doubts over the gelling of the squad remain.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte admitted he is still trying to find the right tactical measures to bring the best out of midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay. In the 2-1 win over Sporting CP, Conte tested a three man midfield in the second half following the substitution of McTominay, and he believes the system can offer him multiple solutions.
Former Napoli chief Pierpaolo Marino has criticised Kevin De Bruyne, accusing the ex-Manchester City maestro of "stepping on Scott McTominay's toes" and hindering the Scot's impact. Marino also added that De Bruyne's current level at Napoli is nowhere near enough to warrant a comparison with the ageless Luka Modric, who has been off to a sensational start for AC Milan.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave the comforts of Great Britain in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has finished ahead of big names such as Arsenal's Declan Rice, Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings. The Scotland international is ranked in 18th place after a stellar season that saw him score 12 Serie A goals and help deliver the Scudetto for Napoli.
Peter Schmeichel admits that Antony was “never good enough for Manchester United” but the Red Devils legend has questioned why Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund were allowed to leave Old Trafford. The Scotland international midfielder and Danish striker are now team-mates again in Italy at Napoli after surprisingly being deemed surplus to requirements.
"Naples has always been marginalised by the rest of Italy. It is a city that suffers the most unfair racism," said Diego Maradona. When he played for Napoli in the more prosperous northern cities like Milan and Turin, he and his team-mates would be subjected to banners reading 'Welcome to Italy'; 'Napoli, cholera sufferers' or 'Vesuvius, wash them with fire'.
Rasmus Hojlund could reportedly join Scott McTominay at Napoli after Manchester United agreed a deal with the Serie A giants. The deal is said to involve a season-long loan, with a €44million (£38m/$51.4m) obligation to buy, coupled with a loan fee, should Napoli secure Champions League qualification. However, the young striker, still 22, has not yet committed to the move.
Kobbie Mainoo reportedly wants a transfer to Napoli, but Manchester United are blocking an exit due to the success of Scott McTominay. A £50 million ($67m) deal is being discussed and the Italian champions are ready to offer a four-year deal for the youngster.
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