Italian Press Delivers Scathing Verdict on McTominay After Napoli's Heavy Defeat
Italian media outlets have delivered a unanimous and damning assessment of Scott McTominay's performance following Napoli's comprehensive 3-0 defeat to rivals Juventus at the Allianz Stadium. The Scottish midfielder, who played the full ninety minutes, was described as "invisible" and "fatigued" by multiple publications, marking a stark contrast to the glowing praise he received earlier in the season.
Napoli's Title Hopes Suffer Major Blow in Turin
Luciano Spalletti's Juventus delivered a statement victory over the reigning Serie A champions, dominating the match from start to finish. Jonathan David opened the scoring for the home side in the 22nd minute, with Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic adding late goals to seal a convincing 3-0 win. Napoli, hampered by injuries, managed only a single shot on target throughout the entire contest.
The defeat sees Napoli drop to fourth place in the Serie A table, dealing a significant blow to their title defence. League leaders Inter Milan now enjoy a nine-point advantage, leaving Antonio Conte's side with a substantial gap to close in the remaining fixtures.
Media Shift from 'Super McTominay' to Critical Analysis
The Italian press, which had previously celebrated McTominay with "Super McTominay" headlines, focused instead on how the former Manchester United player was neutralised by Juventus's superior midfield. Publications highlighted his struggle against the Juventus duo of Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, who effectively nullified his influence on the game.
Eurosport Italy awarded McTominay a match rating of 5.5 out of 10, noting: "He acts like a leader and does it admirably, but his batteries are low. His energy is close to zero, and this forces him to force plays and shots." The analysis pointed to his loss in the "spiky midfield battle" against Thuram as a key factor in Napoli's poor performance.
Detailed Newspaper Ratings and Commentary
Other major Italian newspapers echoed this critical tone:
- Il Messaggero gave McTominay a rating of 6, commenting: "A couple of his own bursts but too inconsistent, struggling against Manuel Locatelli and Thuram."
- Corriere della Sera was harsher, awarding a 5 out of 10 and stating: "He had no license to advance. That way he gets lost."
- Gazzetta dello Sport also issued a 5.5 rating, describing the midfielder as looking "fatigued" and lacking his usual verticality. The famous pink newspaper suggested he appeared "constantly forced to chase" and that Locatelli and Thuram "never gave him room to manoeuvre."
Gazzetta dello Sport further noted that, unlike earlier performances where he was described as "physically devastating," McTominay now looked like "a shadow of the player who dominated the autumn."
Tactical Struggles and Fatigue Concerns Highlighted
Corriere dello Sport, which had previously dubbed McTominay the "Prime Minister of Naples," was particularly unforgiving. Awarding a 5 out of 10, the Rome-based daily focused on his tactical difficulties, stating he "lost the battle of the shadows" against Thuram. Their match report elaborated: "The protagonist who is accustomed to being on the cover was invisible for the wrong reasons. He struggled to find his positioning in the 3-4-3 and was often caught between two minds, neither protecting the defence nor supporting Hojlund."
Tuttosport, based in Turin, gave a 5.5 rating and highlighted that while McTominay never stopped running, his impact was minimal. The outlet remarked, "The Scot's engine seemed to be running on fumes," potentially attributing this to the heavy fixture load imposed by manager Antonio Conte.
The publication also pointed out that his characteristic "game-breaking" runs into the penalty area were completely snuffed out by the disciplined Juventus defence, leading to him being "outclassed" by Thuram and Locatelli.
First Major Challenge Since Arrival in Italy
Calcio Mercato issued a 5 out of 10 rating, with the site that once compared him to Diego Maradona and Edinson Cavani delivering a brutally honest assessment: "McTominay's magic has hit a wall." They argued that Spalletti had "found the antidote" by assigning Thuram to shadow the Scottish international for the entire match.
This collective criticism represents the first significant period of difficulty for McTominay since his high-profile move from Manchester United in the summer of 2024. The midfielder, who was crowned Serie A Player of the Year and MVP last season, now faces the challenge of rediscovering his best form. Manager Antonio Conte will need to manage his exhausted star player effectively if Napoli are to salvage their season and mount a credible challenge for the title.
