Rasmus Hojlund challenges Massimiliano Allegri after Napoli’s Champions League defeat

Rasmus Hojlund has rejected Massimiliano Allegri’s defence of Napoli’s performance after their 4-1 Champions League loss to FC Porto, saying every member of the club must accept responsibility for the team’s poor run.

Allegri attempted to explain the result by highlighting the injury problems affecting his squad. The manager also pointed to the inexperience of the players available from the bench and Napoli’s costly defensive errors, particularly when defending set-pieces.

Hojlund offered a much more critical assessment after the heavy defeat on Wednesday, saying Napoli had not performed well enough.

“We need to improve. We are going through a bad patch in the season. We all need to work harder. I don’t agree with Allegri’s assessment of the performance. We didn’t play well,” the Danish striker told Prime Video.

The 4-1 defeat added to Napoli’s difficulties, with Hojlund acknowledging that the team must become more effective in attack while cutting out the mistakes that have allowed opponents to score cheaply.

“We need to score more goals, and we have to stop conceding poor goals. We have lost too many matches so far,” he added.

Hojlund said he was frustrated by Napoli’s current position and called for the players and staff to assess their own contribution to the club’s struggles.

“I am disappointed and angry. We all need to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror. And that doesn’t just apply to the players. Everyone at the club needs to take responsibility,” he said.