Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is left speechless at realising he will be the first man to lift the Serie A trophy after Diego Armando Maradona. ‘It has been too many years for a place like Naples that lives football.’
The Partenopei needed only a point against Udinese at the Dacia Arena to secure their title, the third in the club’s history after 1987 and 1990.
“It is a wonderful feeling, we’ve been fighting for this since the start of the season, it finally arrived and we are so happy. I think it is a super-deserved title and we can’t wait to celebrate,” Di Lorenzo told DAZN.
Many of these supporters have been waiting 33 years to experience this moment again, so the city has exploded with joy as well as fireworks.
“It has been too many years for a place like Naples that lives football and every day passed on its passion and love for the team. It felt like we were in Naples this evening, really.
“I enjoyed the moment along with my teammates, we had an extraordinary season and closed it in the best way. I saw some video from Naples and it’s just incredible, the fans deserve this so much.”
Victor Osimhen said that the hard-fought clash away to Roma was the moment he knew they could win the Scudetto, but Di Lorenzo didn’t have a similar revelation.
“I don’t know if there was one game, but it was a consistent growth, game by game, we were united and became a team with results that helped boost our enthusiasm and self-confidence. Now we are here and seeing these scenes, I am speechless. Bringing the Scudetto back to Napoli after 33 years is incredible.”
As he is the captain, Di Lorenzo will be the next man after Maradona to lift the Serie A title for Napoli.
“Being compared to him, being the captain after Maradona to lift the Scudetto, I just have no words. It is not my Scudetto, it belongs to all the players and people who worked to make this dream come true.”
Di Lorenzo was sobbing in an embrace with Mario Rui on the way back to the locker room after the final whistle.
“We have a special bond and he is sad to be out injured. Everyone contributed and deserves this moment.”
The tears quickly vanished inside the locker room, where everyone immediately started spraying their hair blue.