KEVIN DE BRUYNE has been warned not to show annoyance at being substituted after reacting angrily to being replaced in Sunday’s defeat to Milan.
Antonio Conte‘s side fell to a second loss of the season at San Siro with De Bruyne once more forced to make way early.
Kevin De Bruyne scored for Napoli against Milan.[/caption]
He was taken off 10 minutes later with the game in the balance.[/caption]
The midfield playmaker was also taken off against former team Manchester City during the Champions League group phase opener two weeks ago when Napoli were reduced to 10 men in the first half.
This time De Bruyne lasted 70 minutes but did not respond well to seeing his number called with the game still in the balance.
Conte chose to bring on Eljif Elmas from the bench to try and turn the match around after De Bruyne’s penalty had halved the deficit.
De Bruyne, 34, was seemingly unhappy with the decision as he muttered under his breath when walking off the pitch, storming towards the subs with a furious look.
Last year’s Serie A MVP, Scott McTominay, and Manchester United flop Rasmus Hojlund were also replaced at the same time as De Bruyne.
Napoli were unable to get anything out of the game and Conte was asked about the changes afterwards.
He said: “I tried to introduce fresh legs, as Milan were clamming up, and we needed something different. I think those were the right changes to make at that time.”
On De Bruyne specifically, Conte added: “I hope he was irritated at the result, because if he was irritated about something else, he is dealing with the wrong person.”
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De Bruyne has scored three times for Napoli since his emotional transfer away from City over the summer.
Napoli are currently second in the league on goal difference after Milan went top with victory in a clash between two of Italy’s biggest clubs.
The midfielder was furious at being substituted.[/caption]
