Italian Media Deliver Frank Assessment of McTominay After Chelsea Defeat
Scott McTominay faced a night of European disappointment as Napoli were eliminated from the Champions League following a dramatic 3-2 home loss to Chelsea on Wednesday evening. The Serie A champions, who enjoyed the advantage of playing in Naples, saw their hopes of a play-off spot dashed by the Premier League side in a match filled with twists and turns.
Napoli's Champions League Dream Ends in Dramatic Fashion
Napoli emerged as one of the tournament's most significant casualties on a night of high drama in European football. Despite the home comforts at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Antonio Conte's men finished a disappointing 30th in the final standings, while their visitors Chelsea secured sixth place. The defeat marked a bitter end to Napoli's Champions League campaign, with McTominay and Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund unable to prevent the Italian side's exit.
The match itself was a rollercoaster affair. Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring, only for Napoli to hit back before half-time through goals from Antonio Vergara and Hojlund. After the interval, however, a Joao Pedro double sealed Napoli's fate, condemning them to a 3-2 defeat and elimination from the competition.
How the Italian Press Rated McTominay's Performance
The Italian media provided a mixed but generally honest assessment of Scott McTominay's display against Chelsea. Here is how various outlets evaluated the former Manchester United midfielder's contribution on the night.
Il Napolista: Recognised Mettle but Criticised Turnovers
Il Napolista awarded McTominay a player rating of six out of ten. The publication acknowledged the midfielder's "mettle" and recognised his threatening presence in attack, noting he carried a menace "to the point of scaring [Chelsea goalkeeper Robert] Sanchez". However, the outlet was critical of several turnovers in the middle of the park, suggesting these errors contributed to Napoli's inability to control the game.
Il Messaggero: Average First Half Followed by Fatigue
Il Messaggero also gave McTominay a rating of six, describing his first-half performance as "average" in a match contested at "very high levels". The publication observed that his contribution fell short of his usual standards after the break, with the midfielder appearing to "feel the fatigue" during the crucial closing stages of the encounter.
Corriere dello Sport: Premier League Grit but No Goals
Corriere dello Sport offered a marginally more generous assessment, awarding McTominay a 6.5 rating. The newspaper praised the midfielder for fighting "in Premier League style" and displaying "all the grit he can muster". Despite this commendation, the outlet noted that the current Serie A MVP failed to trouble the scorers and could not deliver the crucial goals Napoli needed to progress.
Essere Partnopei: Active and Industrious Yet Ultimately Ineffective
Essere Partnopei matched the 6.5 rating, similarly commending McTominay's drive and industry in midfield. The publication described the United academy product as "very active as always" and noted he "plays a lot of good balls". Nevertheless, his efforts proved insufficient to prevent Napoli from crashing out of the Champions League.
Napoli Magazine: Not at His Best Despite Commitment
While Napoli Magazine did not provide a specific player rating, its match report stated clearly that McTominay was "not at his best". The publication acknowledged he remained "still committed" as a vital player for Conte, but ultimately could not steer Napoli into the next round of the competition.
The consensus from the Italian press paints a picture of a hard-working, physically committed performance from Scott McTominay, but one that lacked the decisive quality required on such a significant European night. As Napoli reflect on their Champions League exit, the assessment of their midfielder will likely fuel discussions about his impact and future contributions to the Serie A champions.
