Ex-Juventus and Milan coach Fabio Capello feels Napoli didn’t exploit Barcelona’s ‘weak point’ in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg but admits he ‘didn’t like’ referee Danny Makkelie.
The Partenopei suffered a 3-1 away loss to Barcelona on Tuesday and were, therefore, eliminated from the Champions League.
Capello analysed Napoli’s loss during Sky Sport Italia’s post-match show on Tuesday.
“The defence was not aggressive enough and if you are not focused on the man, Barcelona can easily find a way to score. It was a poor defensive performance, as we’ve seen in Serie A,” said the ex-coach, as quoted by AreaNapoli.
Victor Osimhen was criticised by Italian media following Napoli’s loss and Capello was also unimpressed by the Nigeria international’s performance.
“He was flagged offside six times in the first half and went unnoticed in the second half,” he said.
“It was not the same Osimhen we usually see. He struggled against Barcelona defenders and only won one aerial duel. Barcelona’s weak point was the defence, and he could not emerge.”
However, Capello thought the Partenopei deserved a penalty kick in the second half for a potential foul on their star striker.
“I feel Napoli deserved a penalty, I didn’t like the referee,” concluded Capello.
Napoli’s Champions League exit also means the Partenopei have failed to qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup making room for their Serie A rivals Juventus.
Napoli’s next Serie A game is against Inter at the Stadio Meazza in San Siro on Sunday, March 17.