Antonio Conte did not hold back in his criticism of his Napoli team and himself after defeat to Bologna, but Rasmus Hojlund did emerge with praise from his manager.
Thijs Dallinga and Jhon Lucumi scored in a 2-0 win for Bologna which left the Serie A champions fourth at the end of the weekend.
It is hardly disastrous as Napoli are just two points behind league-leaders Inter, but Conte sounded thoroughly dispirited with his side after their third loss in 11 league games, along with two more in the Champions League.
‘We needed more energy in everything. What’s disappointing is that they showed more positivity and desire than us,’ he told DAZN.
‘It should make us reflect. It’s the fifth defeat we’ve suffered this start of the year. It means we need to reflect, which we’ve already done.;
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Conte said last month that Napoli had signed too many players over the summer following their brilliant title-winning season last time round.
‘Last year we won the league with just a few players. They outdid themselves by being compact and staying united as a team. This year we have more games and brought in more players,’ he told Sky in October.
‘Nine (signings) was too many for me but we had to do it.’
‘I’m not doing a good job’
The former Chelsea and Spurs boss bemoaned his new-look team after the loss at Bologna, although admitted that bedding in new arrivals is his job.
‘Three or four months have passed and there’s no chemistry, no desire to fight together. I don’t know if we’ll be able to change the situation,’ the 56-year-old admitted. ‘I don’t want to be with a deceased person; everyone has to take responsibility. I’m the first to be held accountable. Heart transplants aren’t an option. Each of us needs to rediscover our spirit and our grit.
‘We often think that change can happen overnight. What we’ve done shouldn’t be forgotten, but we need to keep working. We need to ask ourselves if we’re doing it the right way and with the same desire for revenge as last season. I’m disappointed because I’m not finding the energy in the guys again; it means I’m not doing a good job.’
On-loan Manchester United forward Hojlund did escape criticism, though, with Conte hailing his performance up front.
This is despite Napoli now going three games without scoring a goal as they appear to be badly missing the injured Romelu Lukaku.
‘Perhaps he was the best player on the pitch‘
‘I didn’t mind Hojlund today, perhaps the best player on the pitch,’ said the Dane’s manager. ‘He attacked the depth and held his own, but if the performance is judged solely on goals, it becomes relative. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more.
‘Honestly, I didn’t mind it. Perhaps he was the best player on the pitch for me: he held his own, he attacked the depth. Lucumi struggled to control him. Then, if we end the match on whether or not he scored, then it’s a different story. We had prepared a few things, we should have supported him more. Rasmus handled several balls, we were lacking. I thought his game was good.’
The 22-year-old has scored four goals in nine games since his loan move from the Red Devils, although the loss at Bologna means he has now gone four matches without scoring.