Ancelotti: Ref attacked my character

By Football Italia staff

Carlo Ancelotti slammed referee Piero Giacomelli after Napoli’s 2-2 draw with Atalanta for sending him off without just cause. “I feel under attack...”

Ancelotti was sent straight down the tunnel by Giacomelli as tempers frayed towards the end of the match, when Napoli controversially had a penalty denied by VAR and Atalanta in turn were able to equalise.

“Do you have any doubts as to whether it was a penalty or not?” the Coach asked in his post-game interview with Sky Sport Italia.

“Here, there’s a clear disinterest of the player for the ball. I don’t even want to stay here and discuss whether it’s a penalty or not.

“It seems self-evident to me. The VAR speaks of an elbow, but which elbow? It was a decision made by the VAR. We’re officiated by VAR.

“Giacomelli told me, ‘help me sort this out.’ I told him, ‘but you have no doubt that it could be a penalty?’ After that he sent me to the dressing rooms, that’s it.

“The team played very well, with good intensity and everything else. They deserved a different result.

“We’re very sorry about all this, but we have to move on. I feel a little disappointed, I feel that my sincerity, professionalism, team and club have been a little under attack.

“I’d rather talk as little as possible. Tonight we played very well. It was a game of sacrifice and we used up a lot of energy.

“We pressed very well, we stopped them building from the back. We had good control of the game in the second half.”

For all the heartache, Arkadiusz Milik continued his recent resurgence with another goal.

“He’s an important asset for the club, he’s renewing his contract and we’re focusing on him. Now he’s playing consistently.”

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