Scott McTominay heads in his Tenth objective of the season for Napoli (Piero CRUCIATTI)
Scott McTominay headed Napoli stage on factors with Inter Milan on the high of Serie A with the one objective in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Monza, however coach Antonio Conte lashed out at proprietor Aurelio De Laurentiis with indignant post-match feedback.
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Scotland midfielder McTominay nodded house his Tenth objective in all competitions this season from Giacomo Raspadori’s cross within the 72nd minute to save lots of Napoli’s blushes after a colorless show in northern Italy.
McTominay’s third objective in every week boosted Napoli’s bid for a second league title in three seasons and piled stress on reigning champions Inter who’re at high-flying Bologna on Easter Sunday.
Past that objective, Antonio Conte’s crew created little in opposition to the division’s worst crew in Monza, who’re 12 factors from security with 5 matches remaining and set to be relegated.
“It is a match that looks like it ought to be straightforward however the prize up for grabs is so vital that there’s a lot of stress,” stated Conte.
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“Plenty of these boys are in a head-to-head (for a league title) for the primary time. And it is an surprising head-to-head… Simply to be there may be surprising and extraordinary.”
Conte continued to gasoline rumours of his departure on the finish of his first season as Napoli coach after elevating eyebrows on Friday together with his open frustration on the January sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
– ‘Not silly’ –
De Laurentiis then stated that he ought to have waited till the tip of the season earlier than making these feedback, inflicting a visibly irritated Conte to hit again whereas speaking to broadcaster DAZN.
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“It’s important to dwell within the current… the folks wish to win and are bold. I am open to the whole lot, however we have to see the place we’re,” stated Conte when requested about his future.
“I am comfortable in Naples and I am working for followers who give me one thing emotionally. That is crucial. However you already know that whoever hires me is aware of that I deliver with me expectations.
“Individuals rent me and suppose ‘you must end first or second, even for those who completed Tenth the 12 months earlier than, and you must battle for the title, qualifying for Europe is not sufficient’.
“I can deal with all of that, however I am not silly if there aren’t the assets in place to attain that.”
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Conte additionally complained in regards to the pitches at Napoli’s Castel Volturno coaching floor, saying that they have been purported to be relaid and suggesting the membership’s failure to take action was behind current calf accidents — the newest for Kvaratskhelia’s alternative David Neres.
No matter the place Conte is subsequent season, he and Napoli have an important probability to win the Scudetto as after Easter they face just one crew within the high half of the desk — Tenth-placed Torino — and don’t have any different commitments.
– Como eye security –
In the meantime, Inter have a packed schedule, with the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final with AC Milan arising on Wednesday, whereas Barcelona await within the final 4 of the Champions League.
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Inter will lead Napoli on objective distinction even when they lose at Bologna, who’re chasing Champions League qualification, however ought to the pair end the season stage on factors the title might be determined by a play-off.
Earlier, Assane Diao fired Como in direction of security with a brace in his crew’s spectacular 3-0 win at struggling Lecce who’re one place and two factors above the relegation zone.
Como are thirteenth on 39 factors, 15 above the underside three with 5 fixtures remaining of their first Serie A season in over 20 years.
Diao has been one of many key causes for the membership’s near-certain top-flight survival, scoring eight occasions since arriving from Actual Betis in January, when Como invested closely in new gamers as a way to keep away from the drop.
Later Roma tackle Verona hoping to maneuver to inside two factors of Juventus who sit fourth and are at Parma on Monday.
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