PORTO, PORTUGAL – NOVEMBER 04: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli celebrates his team’s first goal with Kevin De Bruyne during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League MD4 match between FC Porto and SSC Napoli at Estadio do Dragao on November 20 in Porto. (Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
Matteo Politano had a broadside to his Napoli team-mates after the 4-1 defeat by Porto, insisting that it was “only us Italians” who took responsibility for their woes.
The Partenopei started strongly enough at the Estadio do Dragao this evening, despite having a squad decimated with 10 players between injury and fitness, leaving only three top players on the bench.
Ian Bednarek’s header from a corner was canceled out by Scott McTominay, but they rallied in the final 20 minutes thanks to Gabriel Weigan’s counter-attack, another Jakub Kiwior free header and Rafa Marin’s late Samu penalty.
Politano was disappointed by his Napoli teammates
When Politano made his first appearance after the match, Sky Sport Italia noted that it was “always you” who came to represent the team in the media room.
Politano only replied with a bitter laugh: “He wouldn’t mind if a few other teammates came here to explain, not just us Italians,” he said.
“I never hide my face”
Napoli were hoping to go one better after a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in Serie A at the weekend, but have now lost three of their four Champions League games.
“We didn’t see the progress we wanted. The first half was a good approach, we equalized and created a couple of chances that we could have done better, but we conceded two goals from corners and they hit the post twice, all in the same situation, so there’s not much to say here,” Politano said.
“The attitude is that a team like ours can’t be at that level.”
Given his comment about only the Italians stepping up, does Politano feel that there is a lack of unity at Napoli or that Max Allegri has lost control of the side?
“I wasn’t attacking anyone, we have a fighting team but we have to come together before the break for national duty and think about this next game. Hopefully we can recover a few players during this time and then our season can really start.”
Napoli’s tendency to collapse in the final 30 minutes of matches in both Serie A and Europe is a recurring theme, so is this purely a physical problem?
“I don’t know, we’ve asked ourselves that. Sometimes it’s not even a tactical issue, because we’re all behind the ball, but we lack determination and sharpness, we don’t read situations well or sense danger,” Politano added.
“The moment you leave the slightest gap in the Champions League and Serie A, they punish you.”
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Italia, Politano also added, “Losing 2-1 and losing 4-1 is a big difference. We melted in the second goal and we have to take good care of ourselves.”