Scott McTominay could make the distinction for Napoli as they purpose to safe their place within the Champions League knockout play-offs, so says Gianfranco Zola.
Napoli head into Wednesday’s conflict with Chelsea in twenty fifth place within the standings, one spot outdoors of the play-off locations.
The Serie A champions might want to win to ensure their spot in subsequent month’s play-offs.
McTominay has scored 4 objectives in his final 5 Champions League appearances. The final Scotsman to attain 5 objectives in a single European Cup season was Mo Johnston in 1990-91 for Rangers, and final for a non-Scottish membership was John Wark for Liverpool in 1984-85.
And Zola, a former Chelsea star, feels the ex-Manchester United midfielder, who has been concerned in a team-leading 31 open-play shot-ending sequences in Europe this season, may be decisive in opposition to the Blues.
“These video games are gained by the staff, not people,” Zola stated, by way of IlNapolista, as reported by Soccer Italia.
“However McTominay has the presence and character to make the distinction.
“He’s the type of participant who can produce the decisive second.”
Antonio Conte has solely gained one in every of his 5 video games in opposition to former membership Chelsea since leaving his publish there (D1 L3), though that one victory did are available his most up-to-date recreation in opposition to them (2-0 win in February 2023 within the Premier League, accountable for Tottenham).
Nonetheless, Napoli have misplaced simply one in every of their final 20 residence Champions League matches (W12 D7), a 3-2 defeat to Actual Madrid in October 2023.
Total, they’ve misplaced simply 12% of their residence video games (4/33), the third-lowest ratio of any staff to play 20+ residence video games within the competitors since 1992-93.
Zola added: “It’s clear Napoli have extra to lose. In the event that they don’t win, they could possibly be out, and it might not even rely solely on them. Chelsea, at worst, would nonetheless have the play-offs.
“They’re lacking key gamers, however I love how they’re dealing with this second. Even after they lose, they compete till the tip. That displays Conte’s character, they by no means surrender.”
