Pirlo: 'Napoli penalty was dubious'

Andrea Pirlo believes the penalty incident was ‘dubious’ after defeat to Napoli. ‘Some incidents are treated differently when against Juventus.’

The Bianconeri suffered their second Serie A defeat of 2021, after falling to Inter, it was another big game at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Lorenzo Insigne missed a penalty against Juve in the Supercoppa last month, but this time he converted into the roof of the net following Giorgio Chiellini’s flailing arm in Amir Rrahmani’s face.

“We never had a shot on goal, we lost due to a dubious incident, but it’s a pity we didn’t get the win. We put in the performance that we needed to, but not the result that we deserved,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“We moved the ball around, but not quickly enough, so Napoli were able to get into position. In the second half we were more enterprising, created more chances, but didn’t get the goal.”

Pirlo was asked why he considered the penalty incident to be ‘dubious’ for Chiellini flailing an arm in the face of Rrahmani.

“If you give a penalty for that, then any contact will be punishable by a spot-kick. If that had been given for us, there would’ve been a lot of controversy and complaints, assuming it’d be given to us at all.

“I am just saying the incidents went that way today. It was a dubious penalty, a doubt over the double yellow card for Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Some incidents are treated differently when against Juventus, because everyone talks about us. Sometimes that tactic works, sometimes it doesn’t. Never mind.

“It’s natural when playing this many games that we lack a bit of sharpness, but it was a good performance and the only thing we were missing was a goal.

“There’s no guarantee the team that scores the most goals then wins the Scudetto. We create plenty of chances, the Napoli goalkeeper was Man of the Match, so I can’t complain about my strikers today.

“We could be 10 points off the top with a game in hand, but it’s still only February and if we keep playing at this level, we’ll do well.

“If we put in this type of performance and score goals, then I am sure we’ll get the results we want.”

Considering how important this result was for his old friend Rino Gattuso, is Pirlo at least somewhat torn?

“I’m pleased for Gattuso because he’s a friend, but I preferred to win and take the three points home.”