Scott McTominay emphasizes the critical importance of Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s return for the match against Bologna. “To be honest, he is one of the best captains I have ever encountered,” McTominay stated.
The game is scheduled to begin at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CEST).
Napoli has the opportunity to secure a top-four finish with a victory this evening. Failure to do so could see them drawn back into the increasingly competitive race for Champions League qualification.
While Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out due to a head clash requiring four stitches, the return of Di Lorenzo is a significant boost. The captain will start his first game since sustaining knee ligament damage against Fiorentina on January 31st.
McTominay’s High Praise for Di Lorenzo
“He is such an important player, both in the dressing room and on the pitch. We have missed him greatly. For me, he is a truly great captain, genuinely one of the best I have experienced. He means so much to the team,” McTominay told DAZN Italia.
The former Manchester United midfielder has scored nine goals this season. If he scores again, he will become only the second Napoli midfielder in 90 years to achieve 10 Serie A goals in two consecutive seasons, a feat previously accomplished by Marek Hamsik.
When asked about potentially matching the record and following in the footsteps of an icon like the Slovakian, McTominay responded, “I wasn’t aware of that before you told me. I don’t really focus on things like that; it’s a team game. It’s important to get the best out of everyone. The objective has nothing to do with me; it’s always about the team,” he insisted.