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JUVENTUS NOT SCUDETTO CONTENDERS, CLAIMS ANTONIO DI NATALE

Antonio Di Natale doubts Juventus can win Serie A, saying they lack the consistency for a title challenge. The former striker believes they are better suited for a top-four finish this season.

Juventus not Scudetto contenders, claims Antonio Di Natale
Serie A / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/GettyImages

Juventus' chances of winning Serie A this season have been questioned by Antonio Di Natale. The former striker feels that the present team lacks the strength and consistency necessary to pose a real threat to the Scudetto, even if they are one of Italy's most successful and historically dominant clubs.

Every year, Juventus is one of the favourites to compete for the league title. Regardless of managerial changes or transitional periods, their reputation, resources, and fan base guarantee that expectations stay high. The Bianconeri have experienced significant turnover since their last Serie A championship in 2020, going through four managers in their continuous quest for domestic glory. The team is still unable to regain its position at the top of Italian football, though, in spite of their best efforts.

Continuous Efforts to Reclaim Dominance

Juventus won nine straight league titles during a spectacular spell of dominance that came to an end with the 2020 victory. Since then, their progress has been hampered by inconsistent play and off-field difficulties. Although the club has had moments of excellence, they have not maintained the form required to contend with teams like Inter, Milan, and Napoli for the entire season.

Supporters feel that this prolonged wait for another Scudetto is out of character for a team of Juventus' calibre. Although many had thought that this season would finally bring about a return to glory, the team's performances and results thus far indicate that they are still a long way from being serious candidates for the championship.

Di Natale's Evaluation of the Title Contest

Via Tuttomercatoweb, Di Natale shared his opinions on the current situation of Italian football: "I like Milan and Napoli, but watch Inter for the Scudetto." In addition, I am rather interested in Gasperini's Roma. They do not seem prepared to compete for the crown, in my opinion. However, they possess the necessary skills to advance to the Champions League. The critique? It goes without saying that there is an issue if Juventus draws five straight games.

Even while Juventus is still competitive, his opinion reflects a growing belief that they no longer exude the same sense of power that previously characterised them. Di Natale suggests that instead of aiming for the league title, the emphasis should be on obtaining a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season. Much will depend on Igor Tudor's ability to steady performances and rebuild faith in a team that are still figuring out who they really are as the season goes on.

TIRED OR TOUGH? THE CONFLICTING ITALIAN MEDIA REPORTS ON SCOTT MCTOMINAY’S PERFORMANCE

Scott McTominay and Napoli suffer Champions League elimination after a 3-2 home defeat to Chelsea's clinical Joao Pedro.

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Napoli and McTominay crashed out against Chelsea

Scott McTominay had a rough night as Napoli crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday. The reigning Serie A champs missed out on a play-off spot after losing at home to Chelsea.

It was a wild night in the Champions League, and Napoli ended up as one of the biggest letdowns. Even with home advantage against Liam Rosenior's team, they only managed to finish 30th overall. Chelsea, on the other hand, walked away with sixth.

McTominay, along with Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund, couldn’t stop Napoli from falling 3-2 in Naples. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring, but Napoli hit back before halftime thanks to Antonio Vergara and Hojlund.

But after the break, Joao Pedro bagged a brace and sealed Napoli’s fate. The Italian press didn’t hold back in their reviews of McTominay’s performance.

Il Napolista gave McTominay a 6 out of 10. They liked his grit but pointed out he lost possession a few too many times in midfield. Still, they said he was a threat going forward—enough to give Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez something to worry about. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough for Conte’s side.

Il Messaggero also gave him a 6. They called his first half “average”, even though the game was played at a high level. After halftime, they thought he looked tired and didn’t live up to his usual standards.

Corriere dello Sport was a bit more generous with a 6.5. They praised his fighting spirit—classic Premier League style—and said he gave it everything he had. But as Serie A’s current MVP, expectations are high, and he just couldn’t find the goals Napoli needed.

Essere Partnopei matched that 6.5 rating. They praised his energy and said he was as active as ever, moving the ball well. Still, his efforts couldn’t keep Napoli from being knocked out.

Napoli Magazine skipped the ratings but said McTominay wasn’t at his best. He’s a key player for Conte and stayed committed, but it wasn’t enough to push Napoli into the next round.

"DON'T JUMP SHIP!" — ANTONIO CONTE’S EXPLOSIVE WARNING TO NAPOLI STARS AFTER JUVENTUS ROUT

Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund fail to fire as Juventus crush Napoli 3-0. Discover Conte’s defiant post-match reaction.

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Napoli slip to fourth as title rivals capitalise on defeat

Napoli just fell nine points behind in the Serie A title chase after Scott McTominay and the rest of the squad took a heavy 3-0 loss against Juventus.

The defending champs barely put up a fight at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus looked sharp, closing the gap with Napoli to just a single point. Right now, Gli Azzurri sit fourth with 43 points, Juventus are right behind on 42, and Inter still lead the pack with 52. If Antonio Conte’s side wants to catch up, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

McTominay played the whole match for Napoli but couldn’t change the game. Frustration was obvious for the visitors. Rasmus Hojlund, on loan from Manchester United, struggled again and didn’t make much of a difference up front. While his parent club edged out Arsenal 3-2 in London, Hojlund missed two decent chances in Turin. He hasn’t scored for Napoli since late December.

Romelu Lukaku finally got back on the pitch after his injury, but with just 12 minutes left, the result was already settled. Juventus were two goals up—Jonathan David bagged the first, Kenan Yildiz added another, and Filip Kostic finished things off near the end with a third.

Napoli are still missing another Scot, Billy Gilmour, and creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is out hurt as well. Next up, Chelsea comes to Naples on Wednesday night. Napoli really needs a win to stay in the hunt for a Champions League play-off spot.

Conte faced up to the defeat but made it clear Napoli aren’t about to give up on the Scudetto—even with all these injuries.

Conte didn’t sugarcoat things:

“As long as it was 1-0, it felt close—like we might grab a draw,” he said. “But after their second goal, things opened up, and then they scored a third. Credit to them, but also to my guys. There’s not much to say or criticise. Even here in Turin, they gave everything.

“Sometimes you get past these obstacles, sometimes you don’t. For the first time in my career, I had to bring on a player [Giovane]. I’d never even seen him in training—a kid who just joined us Saturday. That tells you something about what we’re dealing with right now.

“But we’re not quitting. We know the situation, and we’ll keep pushing. It feels like we’re out at sea in a storm, but we’re not bailing. If someone wants to jump ship, fine—they can swim to shore. The rest of us are staying on board, ready to fight with everything we’ve got, whatever comes our way.”

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