Napoli find themselves in a situation of great tension after the 4-1 defeat against Porto in the Champions League, the third in four matches in this competition and the seventh in total if we include the ten Serie A matches. Massimiliano Allegri's team, already plagued by injuries, showed evident nervousness and a certain frustration, especially in view of the next match against league leaders Lazio at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. The start of the season was a nightmare for the Azzurri, and the chaos was intensified not only by the statements of players such as Politano, McTominay and Hojlund, but also by an argument between Francesco Lucca and Kevin De Bruyne on the Porto pitch.
During the match, Lucca scolded De Bruyne for a movement he considered wrong, asking him "why are you talking?" and repeating “F**k off” three times. The words were recorded by the microphone and fueled the tension between the two companions. The discussion was a sign of internal fracture, especially in a team that has already suffered numerous injuries and is struggling to maintain cohesion.
After the match, Politano expressed his frustration in an interview with Sky Sport, stating that he always gets involved but that he wants other teammates to give explanations, especially because the Italians are not always present. He reiterated that the group is still united and that he has no attack on anyone, but underlined the difficulty of working with the coach and the need to concentrate on the next match against Lazio. Politano also hoped to recover some injured players after the break and be able to resume the championship with new energy.
Napoli, who have suffered a series of defeats in the Champions League, now find themselves facing a crucial phase of the season. With the pressure of recovering points in Serie A and consolidating their position in the Champions League, the team will have to manage internal tensions and the physical difficulties of the players. The next match against Lazio will be a decisive moment to see if the team can overcome the current difficulties and return to form.