Napoli suffered a tough defeat against Villarreal, but the real disappointment came from the relationship between coach Allegri and captain Kevin DeBruyne. During the match the coach had asked the player to return to the control area, reversing the position with McTominay to give the Scotsman more freedom to attack and give order to the Italian offensive phase. DeBruyne, however, did not respond to the request, he did not even turn to meet his coach's gaze. On the pitch he continued to shout and complain, aiming for the opponent's goal as his main objective, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Allegri had also considered the idea of replacing DeBruyne with Neres, but ultimately decided to leave him on the pitch.
Allegri expressed his frustration at the end of the match, but tried to downplay the tension between the two. However, tensions between the manager and the captain were high and Allegri asked DeBruyne to change his attitude. The coach's message was addressed to all the players who did not give the emotional contribution he expected, in particular to senators such as Giovanni DiLorenzo and Matteo Politano, who should set an example and increase the group's sense of belonging. NoaLang has also been criticized for his lack of enthusiasm and commitment on the field.
Napoli needs a new offensive approach and greater cohesion among the players. Allegri asked DeBruyne to return to the director's office and help find new ways to attack the opponent's goal. The coach also asked the players to give their all on the pitch and show a positive attitude. If Napoli do not change their attitude, Allegri warned that the team could leave Venice with broken bones. The club needs a new attacking approach and greater cohesion among the players to return to form and win matches.