Napoli coach Allegri admits misunderstanding with De Bruyne: “We didn’t understand each other”

On Tuesday evening Kevin De Bruyne witnessed a frustrating Champions League night with SSC Napoli, who lost 3‑1 to Villarreal. After the match, coach Massimiliano Allegri said that a tactical instruction had not been properly received by the Red Devil. The Italian club now has no points from two group matches.

Misunderstanding during the match

Allegri indicated that he asked De Bruyne to play between the two central midfielders, because he is technically stronger than Scott McTominay. The aim was to have McTominay operate higher in the penalty area. According to the coach, they did not understand each other, which led to an animated exchange of words along the sideline.

Different views on the role

The Belgian ignored the instruction and stayed in a more attacking position, which left Allegri watching in frustration. He reported that De Bruyne threw his arms up and avoided eye contact with the coach. The coach emphasized that the misunderstanding was not only about the position, but also about the collective organization after the equaliser.

Napoli collapses at Villarreal: zero points in Champions League and urgent warnings

Previous win and contrast

Napoli had on Saturday still won 3‑0 against Frosinone in Serie A, with De Bruyne scoring twice and receiving praise for his midfield role. The contrast between that performance and the defeat to Villarreal was striking for both players and staff.

Allegri’s criticism of the team

After the match Allegri stated that a strong side should not fall apart as Napoli did in the second half. He pointed to unnecessary errors in the build‑up and a lack of patience under pressure. The coach placed emphasis on the collective performance rather than an individual refusal by De Bruyne.

Kevin De Bruyne and Allegri clash over role in Napoli's painful defeat

Consequences for Napoli

With zero points from two Champions League matches, Napoli must urgently pick up points, both in Europe and in the Italian league, where they currently sit in eighth place. The outcome of the confrontation between Allegri and De Bruyne could be decisive for the club’s further strategy.