Napoli manager Antonio Conte has now dropped one all-important message that the likes of Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and midfielder Scott McTominay must understand.
Rasmus Hojlund reunited with former Red Devils midfielder Scott McTominay in September 2025 after he left Old Trafford in a stunning loan deal on deadline day.
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The 22-year-old on-loan Manchester United striker has been a key part of the attacking set-up of Napoli’s 2025-26 Serie A title defence under Antonio Conte.
McTominay, on the other hand, is in his second season with the Naples-based side after United offloaded their 29-year-old former academy product back in 2024.
The Scotland international left Old Trafford during Erik ten Hag’s reign in a £25.7m deal and McTominay has become a key first-team player for Napoli boss Conte.
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Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay during the Serie A 2025-26 football match between Napoli and Parma.
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Antonio Conte’s instant reaction to Napoli’s performance after Scott McTominay scored against Copenhagen
Both Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay were in the Napoli starting XI for the defending Serie A champions’ latest Champions League clash this season.
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Napoli visited the Parken in Denmark and Antonio Conte’s men faced Copenhagen, with the Italian title-holders being held to a 1-1 draw in Tuesday’s clash.
McTominay opened the scoring for Napoli in the first half, but 10-man Copenhagen rescued a point after Jordan Larsson netted the crucial equaliser in the second half.
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Speaking after the Champions League result, Conte said: “What I told the squad was that we had the game in hand, so it was important to score a second and third goal.
“I’ve been here many times, I know in these games any incident can happen and you are then left licking your wounds.
“Well, it happened, and now we lick our wounds. It’s disappointing, because for all the thousand excuses we could have, we were dominating this match and managed to make it difficult for ourselves.
“That is sad, as we work so hard.”
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Antonio Conte’s verdict on Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund, Scott McTominay and all Napoli players is made clear
Hojlund and McTominay completed the full 90 minutes of the Champions League draw against Copenhagen, with Napoli unable to restore their lead in the match.
Conte insisted that the likes of Hojlund and McTominay must share the same feeling of “hurt” that he does over Napoli dropping key points in the Champions League.
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“This has to annoy us, because if it doesn’t annoy us, then it means we don’t want to grow and improve,” he told Sky Sport Italia, as per Football Italia.
“It’s not possible to let Copenhagen back into this game down to 10 men, understanding the importance of this match.
“We know what football is like, you have to be fired up and hungry from the first second to the last, otherwise you risk this.
“It’s a draw that hurts me, and it ought to hurt my players, too.”
Napoli are in 23rd place in the Champions League table after seven matches in the 2025-26 season, with Conte’s men winning only twice and suffering three defeats.
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