Antonio Cassano Criticizes Romelu Lukaku: 'Napoli Plays with 10 Men When He's on the Field!'
Former Italian international Antonio Cassano has criticized Romelu Lukaku's performance at Napoli, suggesting that the team is effectively playing with a man down when he is on the pitch.
Antonio Cassano, the former Italian international known for his outspoken views, has directed his latest criticism at Romelu Lukaku, asserting that Napoli operates as though they are a man down when the Belgian striker is on the field. Speaking on the 'Viva El Futbol' podcast, Cassano remarked, "When Lukaku is in the lineup, it's as if Napoli is playing with ten men."
Cassano elaborated on his concerns, stating, "Lukaku poses a significant problem for Napoli. I'm uncertain if we'll ever witness the form he displayed at Inter again, but if this continues, the team will face challenges." He also noted a perceived dip in confidence from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, adding, "It seems Kvaratskhelia has been somewhat apprehensive recently."
Despite his criticisms, Cassano acknowledged Napoli's ongoing efforts in the Serie A title race, commenting, "Napoli is still in contention for the Scudetto and will undoubtedly pose challenges for Atalanta and Inter. They need to maintain their position among the top teams until March."
Turning his attention to Lazio, Cassano praised their performance, highlighting Matteo Guendouzi's exceptional display against Napoli and commending coach Marco Baroni for his impactful substitutions that contributed to Lazio's victory. He suggested that Baroni, at 60, deserves an opportunity to manage a top-tier team, stating, "He assembled a squad from various places and succeeded in keeping Hellas Verona up; now he's proving his capabilities at Lazio."