Napoli were preparing for a European evening at the Maradona with Scott McTominay asking the squad to respond through work rather than words. The Scottish midfielder delivered a direct message before the Champions League meeting with Bodo/Glimt: this is a difficult spell, and the only answer is to stay quiet and keep working.
The decision
McTominay has returned to availability at a delicate point in Napoli’s season. The team arrived at their third Champions League match without a point after defeats to Arsenal and Villarreal, while the domestic setback at Venezia had added to the pressure around the group.
Rather than looking for excuses, McTominay called for a collective reaction. “This is a difficult moment and there is only one thing to do: keep quiet and work, always,” he said.
His focus was also on the responsibility shared across Napoli’s midfield. McTominay believes the department has depth and quality, but said those options must be matched by a more forceful approach once the match begins.
“The whole midfield has a great deal of quality,” he said. “We have many very good alternatives, but we must be aggressive during matches. Everyone will be useful. We are a team and each player has to be ready to help.”
For Napoli, Bodo/Glimt represented more than the next fixture on the European calendar. It was an opportunity to begin repairing a Champions League campaign that had opened with two defeats, with McTominay placing the emphasis on discipline, effort and contribution from every member of the squad.
