Scott McTominay played from start to finish as Napoli's fading title hopes went up in smoke
Scott McTominay and his team-mates were jeered off the pitch as Napoli's Serie A title aspirations were virtually extinguished by Lazio. A 2-0 home loss left Antonio Conte's outfit 12 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan with only five fixtures left to play.
Matteo Cancellieri and Toma Basic found the net in either half, with former Manchester United midfielder McTominay, as well as on-loan forward Hojlund, failing to make a mark. The lacklustre team performance was greeted with boos from supporters at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at the final whistle.
The loss came on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at Parma and has left Napoli with just Champions League qualification to fight for. Following the match, Conte criticised McTominay and his midfield colleagues, saying: "This was not a good match from us, we put very little quality in midfield.
"Lazio waited for us and hit on the counter. We had 70 per cent possession and did not manage a single shot on target.
"We had studied the match but we were not good enough. When this team lacks energy, quality drops. Perhaps I was not good enough at sensing the malaise that developed after Parma."
Conte also addressed rumours surrounding his future after club president Aurelio De Laurentiis suggested that the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager could be leaving the club this summer. Conte told DAZN: "It's a problem of the president. He can say whatever he wants, absolutely, but I have nothing to answer him.
"If I had something to say to him, I would do it in private, not in public, because then the people and the media cannot see anything else. More is said in silence, and the better it is. It applies to everyone until the championship ends."
He added: "I understand that my name is used to write and make newspaper pages and broadcasts, but sometimes things are invented and exploited."
"Behind the scenes, you can do a thousand things. But in these situations, the more we are in silence and focused on the team, the better it is, also as a form of respect for those who have always supported us."
The possible exit of Conte would cast doubt over the future of McTominay, who has been touted for a return to the Premier League, potentially even with United. However, the Scotland international has reportedly been in talks over a new Napoli contract.
As for Hojlund, Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna said earlier this year that the Dane is expected to remain at the club following the conclusion of his loan deal.