Having seen his star man ‘McTotally’ rise to the occasion, former Spurs boss Conte wants to see similar from another key man.
Napoli boss Antonio Conte may be on the brink of an extraordinary Serie A title challenge in his first season at the club, but after seeing his mystic credentials strengthened amid Scott McTominay’s recent goal haul, he’s used his weekly presser to demand more from another four-star general within his ranks.
With six games left to play in the race for the Scudetto, there are just three points separating Champions League semi-finalists Inter and Conte’s Napoli but after recording two huge wins against fellow title challengers Atalanta and Juventus at the end of January, a run of six draws out of their last 10 league matches has opened the door for Simone Inzaghi’s side to grab the lead heading into the final furlongs.
Disquiet has tended to follow the former Juventus midfielder into the dugout wherever he’s gone and it’s no different at the Partenopei who play at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
“In these 8 months here at Napoli I have understood that many things cannot be done here in Naples.”
The cryptic quote has had many a scribbler scrambling to decipher its meaning, and it was in the follow up that clarity was forthcoming.
After his mystic McTominay prediction overs goals, he has a new name in the frame to stand tall.
He added: “From Di Lorenzo, he started like a rocket… there’s even a saying. I expect a few more goals from Giovanni, he has the ability, the quality and the personality as well as the timing of his insertion and he has stopped a bit. I expect an extra push and to bring good results again”.
With Scotland talisman McTominay having decisively risen to the challenge set by his boss with a brace against Empoli – a game that had as many Scots playing in it as St Mirren v Ross County – the gauntlet has now been thrown down for his captain Giovanni di Lorenzo, which will certainly make for a tantalising climax to this absorbing Serie A season.
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