Max Allegri was extremely agitated in post-match interviews after his red card in Napoli’s 3-3 thriller with Roma. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t even be on the touchline from now on.’
The coach saw red for dissent after the Giallorossi equaliser for 3-3, as he and his players felt Sam Beukema was fouled by Leonardo Balerdi in the build-up to the Argentina international’s decisive header.
It was the culmination of an epic battle, which saw the Partenopei surge into a 2-0 lead through Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Scott McTominay, then Roma fought back with Matias Soulé and Balerdi goals in the space of five minutes.
McTominay had drilled from distance to restore the lead at 3-2 only for that last-gasp Balerdi header.
Allegri fuming after Napoli thriller
“The fourth official called the referee and got me sent off, but I said absolutely nothing,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.
“Next time I will have to sit on the bench and not move, because every time I move, I get sent off. I had to pay €80,000 in fines last season, so maybe I shouldn’t even be on the touchline from now on. I see others who practically run onto the pitch and nobody says anything, when I move, I’m punished.
“I thank the fourth official Saccani, and for the rest, I can only congratulate the lads for their performance,” he added with sarcasm.
Napoli fans are increasingly frustrated with the number of goals that they are leaking, as they already lived through a 4-3 victory over Bodo/Glimt here in the Champions League midweek.
“I think this evening the team played well, also defensively, against a strong side. We had the chance to go 3-0 up, we then had the lead at 3-2, but conceded again. If we play with this spirit, we will climb the table,” noted Allegri.
It was put to the coach that conceding this many goals is frankly very unusual for someone of his tactical approach, as he has always been famous for being defensive.
“I changed my way of playing now, it is all on the attack. Since the start of the season, I even try to use four strikers if I can,” he again added with sarcasm.
Napoli picked up just one point from the last two Serie A rounds, losing 3-1 at rock bottom Venezia and then fumbling this lead for a 3-3 draw with Scudetto contenders Roma.
It also means they have not managed two wins on the bounce in all competition yet this season.
“Unfortunately, we’ve dropped a lot of points along the way, I’m still angry at the way the game ended, so I’m perhaps lacking sharpness in evaluating how the match went. I’m sorry, but after 25 years of this, I can make mistakes too.”
Rasmus Hojlund has now not scored in eight competitive appearances for Napoli, so how can he put this crisis behind him?
“He had three very favourable situations this evening, he worked for the team, which was not easy. He had a header in the first half, another couple of situations, so the goal will arrive eventually.”
Benoit Badiashile limped off with a muscular issue in the second half.
“Unfortunately, he had this injury and we will evaluate it over the next 48 hours.”
Allegri was asked if he sees the glass half-full or half-empty at Napoli after his 3-3 result.
“I don’t know, you tell me if it’s half-full or half-empty. I am in no condition right now, for the first time after 25 years, to give you any clear answers on the match. So I’m sorry, but I have to wish you a good night.”