Massimiliano Allegri said his touchline exchange with Kevin De Bruyne during Napoli's loss to Villarreal was a misunderstanding. Napoli's next Serie A match is away at Venezia on 17 October, Football Italia said.
Allegri on the exchange with De Bruyne
Allegri said the misunderstanding with De Bruyne was linked to language.
Allegri said: "Did he bother me? No, there was a misunderstanding, but that was it. These things happen and will happen again. If we understand each other straight away, it's better: I spoke Italian, he spoke English, then I started speaking in English and he wanted to understand in Italian. The boy is intelligent, he understood."
Results and Napoli's level
Football Italia said Napoli have earned 10 points in six Serie A matches and have dropped points from a winning position three times.
Allegri said: "It doesn’t mean everything is a disaster, just as everything isn’t perfect when you win. That’s not how it works. I understand your perspective and that the result shapes opinion, but that brings us back to the usual discussion: if the result determines the opinion, then the result is the most important thing, whether you have played better or worse. But we are still at the beginning."
Allegri said: "We must improve and we must demand it, since the boys have quality."
Team news before Venezia
GOAL said Filippo Marianucci and Sam Beukema have returned to full training.
Allegri said: "They have recovered; the former was out for three months, the second missed the pre-season preparation. They are reliable and having them available is an advantage."
Allegri said Anguissa, Olivera and Alisson will be available.
Allegri said Napoli have lost Neres again to injury.
Allegri said Vergara and Favasuli are progressing well but are not close to returning yet.
Selection calls for the next match
Allegri said: "We’ll train today, then I’ll decide whether Lucca or Hojlund will play."
Allegri said: "Hojlund has played a lot of matches and needs some rest, or perhaps to come off the bench. Lucca also did well when he came on in Spain. He had a couple of promising situations; he took a shot in one of them but it was blocked, and his movement was good."
Football Italia said Rasmus Hojlund might start on the bench against Venezia.