Coach Rudi Garcia, who leads the Napoli football team, has defended himself and his decisions in the face of criticism after a dull 0-0 draw against Bologna in the Serie A league.
During the disappointing match, one of Napoli’s top players, Victor Osimhen, got upset when he was taken out of the game and argued with his coach. Osimhen believed he should have stayed on the field to help the team score rather than being replaced by another player, Giovanni Simeone.
Pictures of Osimhen and Garcia arguing became widely known, and people started questioning how Garcia manages his players, especially after a similar incident involving another star player, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, happened the previous week.
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Rudi reacts to criticism
After the match, Garcia was asked about the Osimhen incident, and he mentioned that he had talked with the Nigerian player. However, he didn’t share the details of their conversation, keeping it private within the team’s locker room.
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Napoli, responded to criticism by acknowledging Victor Osimhen’s challenges during the game, including his missed penalty.
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He defended Osimhen by saying that even the best players in football sometimes miss penalties. Regarding Osimhen’s substitution, Garcia explained that he discussed it with the player, and those conversations stay within the team.
Garcia mentioned the team’s depth in quality players and the need to rotate them, especially when there are many games in a short period. He also expressed frustration about the team’s bad luck, such as hitting the goalpost and failing to convert a penalty, which made it tough to win even when they played well.
Despite Garcia’s explanations, some Napoli fans are calling for his removal as the coach.
