Walter Mazzari: Napoli Boss Missed Team Bus, Took Taxi Home After Loss to Mourinho’s Roma

Walter Mazzari: Napoli Boss Missed Team Bus, Took Taxi Home After Loss to Mourinho’s Roma

Elijah Odetokun
updated at December 25, 2023 at 2:03 PM
In this article:
Victor Osimhen logo
V. Osimhen
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ITA Serie A
Italy
  • AS Roma defeated defending champions Napoli 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico
  • Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku scored for Jose Mourinho’s side
  • Napoli BB Oss Walter Mazzari had an ugly incident after the match

Walter Mazzari had extra worries after his Napoli side were beaten 2-0 by Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in the last game before Christmas.

The reigning Italian Serie A champions have not had it smooth this season and have changed managers already, sacking Rudi Garcia last month for Mazzari.

The game was goalless in the first 75 minutes before Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring. Romelu Lukaku added the second after Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano were sent off.

Walter Mazzari, Andrea Colombo, Napoli, Roma, Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
Walter Mazzari confronts referee Andrea Colombo and was shown a yellow card. Photo by Danilo Di Giovanni.
Source: Getty Images

Both teams also had their managers shown yellow cards after a melee broke out in the first half, and Mourinho confronted Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Mazzari misses team bus

Mazzari was so engrossed in his media duties post-match that the team bus left him behind at the Stadio Olimpico, as it could not wait and transported the players instead.

As reported by Football Italia, he had to order a taxi, which drove him home from Rome to Naples in the middle of the night, compounding his nightmares for the day.

Since taking over the club, he has guided the team to five losses and three wins, including a soul-crushing 4-0 loss to Frosinone in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.

The Neapolitans are seventh on the Serie A table with 27 points, four points behind Bologna, who have 31 points and are fourth. They host Monza next at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Osimhen and Politano will miss their next games after their red cards. Per Complete Sport, the Nigerian has been struggling under the 62-year-old, but the manager is confident he will regain his form.

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Mourinho refuses players' comparison

Sports Brief reported on Mourinho refusing to compare Osimhen and Lukaku to Drogba when asked about the three during his pre-match conference.

The Special One has coached Drogba and Lukaku. He analysed their styles of play but waved away a question about who was the better player of the trio.

Authors
Elijah Odetokun photo
Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.
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Jose Mourinho