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Napoli assistant manager Cristian Stellini spoke to the media after Antonio Conte was sent off during their 2-2 draw with Inter at San Siro, with the head coach refusing interviews following his red card for protesting Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty that put the hosts ahead for the second time on Saturday evening.
Stellini Praises Napoli Character After Conte Dismissal in San Siro Stalemate
Napoli twice came from behind at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium as Federico Dimarco’s early angled drive and Calhanoglu’s penalty were both cancelled out by Scott McTominay in a thrilling encounter. Conte was dismissed from the touchline after furiously protesting the spot-kick decision, awarded for Amir Rrahmani’s challenge on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with the coach screaming at the fourth official before being escorted down the tunnel.
Stellini chose to focus on his team’s resilience rather than the controversial penalty incident, telling DAZN Italia that the reaction after conceding gave the squad great confidence. The assistant manager praised Napoli’s performance against a strong opponent in a difficult venue, stating that the team proved once again they deserved to win the title last season with their character and determination.
The draw maintains the tight battle at the Serie A summit, with Inter leading on 43 points followed by Milan on 40 and Napoli on 39, though all three teams have games in hand rescheduled due to Supercoppa Italiana commitments. Milan were also held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina on the same day, meaning the top positions remain unchanged heading into the midweek fixtures.
Stellini addressed questions about squad rotation after Conte made only two substitutions compared to Inter’s five changes, explaining that Napoli are in good physical shape despite limited options for rotation. He expressed satisfaction with the quality and character shown by his players, emphasising that coming back twice against Inter at San Siro is not easy for any team visiting the famous stadium.
The assistant manager also discussed summer signing Rasmus Hojlund, who joined from Manchester United to cover for the injured Romelu Lukaku, praising the striker’s effort and humility despite having limited training time due to international commitments. Stellini confirmed that Conte’s decision to skip media duties was consistent with his previous behaviour after receiving red cards, expressing hope that future dismissals can be avoided.
