Francesco Baiano, former Napoli striker, commented on the Azzurri's defeat against Villarreal during an interview on Radio Tutto Napoli. According to the former player, the match was marked by an error by Politano which caused the team to "disband", a phenomenon which, although more common in young teams, is unacceptable for a mature team like Napoli. Baiano stressed that the club has failed to react, highlighting that many players rely only on the ball, forgetting that football is not a "basketball" game.
In his speech, Baiano then talked about Kevin DeBruyne, calling him an extraordinary player with the ball but "non-existent" without it. He explained that although DeBruyne is a very talented midfielder, he cannot rely solely on technique; grit and the ability to adapt to different playing styles are essential to win. Baiano also noted that DeBruyne seems to have difficulty maintaining the required running pace in Europe, where the game is faster than in Italy, where it tends to slow down.
The commentator also touched on the issue of Lucca, stating that, as a coach, he would not give minutes to a player who offers no guarantees. According to Baiano, Lucca has not proven to be a real Napoli player and, if he had been Allegri, he would have preferred to give space to Hojlund. The former striker asked what Allegri should do to improve the team, highlighting that the expectations towards some players were excessive.
In summary, Baiano expressed concern about Napoli's lack of reactivity after Politano's mistake, criticized DeBruyne's approach and highlighted the need for players who combine technique, grit and adaptability to the European pace. His analysis focuses on the fact that modern football requires a balance between individual skills and the ability to work as a team, a point that Napoli will have to consider for the next challenges.