Napoli Captain Advises Victor Osimhen After Clashing With Coach

Napoli captain, Giovanni Di Lorenzo has admonished Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen after he shouted at the club’s coach, Rudi Garcia for substituting him during Sunday’s goalless draw with Bologna.

Even though the 0-0 draw ended Napoli’s three straight Serie A defeats, the result was seen as a bad one because it didn’t improve their chances of successfully defending the Scudetto they won last season.

Amidst that, the game ended with speculations that there is in-fighting in the team especially after Osimhen expressed his annoyance at Napoli coach after the Frenchman replaced the Nigerian star with Giovanni Simeone with four minutes left in the game against Bologna.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international was heard urging the coach that he should have kept two strikers in the attack while the team sought a victory.

Osimhen, who was obviously unhappy, flung his jacket into the garbage and walked over to the substitute’s bench.

His substitution came after losing a penalty that would have given the team a win in the game.

He has since apologized to the coach and the entire team but Di Lorenzo has emphasized the need for Osimhen to be mindful of his attitude.

“We manage certain episodes within the locker room. These become more evident when things go wrong”, Di Lorenzo told DAZN.

“In these moments we don’t need such an attitude, we need to be united and focused on the objective. We will talk to the group and the coach to resolve it.

“We don’t like to be behind in the championship, even if only at the beginning.”

While coach Garcia added, “The missed penalty happens to the greatest players in the history of football.

“Then, I obviously spoke to him about his exit, but what I said to him and the team he remains in the locker room. I may not be happy with their performance, but we are a squad with many players and therefore obviously everyone must be used. He is the penalty taker.

“There is a team that starts, one that is in the second half, and another at the final whistle. We will not go far unless I can count on all the lads.

“It is a positive that players are not happy when they come off, just as it can happen that I am not happy with their performances. It is a large squad and I want to use them all.”

Napoli are currently sitting in the 7th spot on the league table with 8 points in five games after two wins, two draws, and one defeat.