Insigne curls in late winner for Napoli

NAPOLI captain Lorenzo Insigne curled in a late goal to give them a 2-1 win at home to Roma in Serie A yesterday while inspirational midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo made his return for the visitors after a knee injury.

Insigne collected the ball just on the edge of the area, sent a dipping shot into the far corner in the 82nd minute and then celebrated by chest-bumping his coach Gennaro Gattuso as Napoli pulled level with their opponents on 48 points.

Roma stayed ahead in fifth spot on goal difference as the teams are level on their head-to-head record.

Gattuso later insists there is “no secret” to his success, insisting that The Partenopei

“have to create a winning mentality.”

“There’s no secret. I am working with strong players and I need to remind them of that every now and then. I told them after the Coppa Italia, we have to talk less and do more action,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“Many of these players will be part of the squad next season and we have to create a winning mentality, thinking not individually, but as a team and of the team.

“Lorenzo (Insigne) has the ability to take men on and can make the difference, but he needs the power in his legs to do that. He can’t always play, he keeps glancing over and doesn’t like being on the bench, but it’s for his own good.

“He is very intelligent, he understands football and gets ideas quickly when we talk in training.

“Napoli are a squad who in recent years always faltered when they got to the next step,” Gattuso added.

“They were mentally weak and that is what I need to work on. They must realise that they have to improve day by day, to keep getting stronger, because potential is not enough.

“We pass it around well, but when the time comes, even Insigne has to track back and help out. Many don’t like that, but they have to get over it, because this is how the team has to play right now.” – Reuters/Agencies