Football Italia
·17 February 2024
Football Italia
·17 February 2024
Cyril Ngonge admits he ‘cannot be happy’ with his first Napoli goal after a 1-1 draw with Genoa, but insists the team is ‘100 per cent behind’ coach Walter Mazzarri.
It was another disappointing afternoon for the Partenopei, as Morten Frendrup had given Genoa the lead at the dawn of the second half.
Ngonge came off the bench and equalised at the 90th minute by turning in from 12 yards on a Giovanni Di Lorenzo knockdown.
At the final whistle, the crowd jeered at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and they seemed to continue that response when the players walked over to salute them too.
“I cannot have joy for this goal, I cannot be happy because the result at the end of the day was not good. We ought to be winning on home turf, for us and for the fans who are always here,” Ngonge told DAZN.
“I cannot celebrate this goal today.”
Ngonge only arrived in the January transfer window from Hellas Verona, so what does he think is going wrong for Napoli this season?
“The only thing I can say is that we work hard in training, that is not the issue. We know that it is always difficult to repeat yourself after a Scudetto, but I am sure the points will come.
“We have another opportunity on Wednesday in the Champions League and our focus has to be on that straight away.
“We have objectives, fourth place in Serie A is one and progressing to the next round of the Champions League is another. We are 100 per cent convinced that we can do it.”
There are already reports that Mazzarri could face the sack, with DAZN reporters suggesting Marco Giampaolo as a potential option, but Ngonge will not stand for it.
“Of course, the whole team is 100 per cent behind the coach, there is no doubt on that. I don’t want to hear anyone suggest otherwise.”
View publisher imprintCyril Ngonge to the rescue! February 17, 2024