Rasmus Hojlund praised Kevin De Bruyne’s respect for Antonio Conte’s decision to substitute him.

Napoli’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League opener was a tough pill to swallow, especially with Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card just 21 minutes into the match. Rasmus Hojlund admitted that playing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium would have been a challenge even without the red card.

“It was difficult obviously to play Manchester City in this stadium, with the quality they have, it’s very very tough anyway, let alone when down to 10 men,” Hojlund said.

The dismissal changed the dynamics of the game, leaving Napoli to defend for most of the match. Hojlund was increasingly isolated upfront, frustrated at the lack of service from his teammates. Manchester City’s constant pressure eventually paid off, with goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku securing the 2-0 win.

Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional return to face his former teammates was cut short when Antonio Conte decided to substitute him moments after the red card.

De Bruyne was replaced by full-back Mathias Olivera, a tactical move aimed at bolstering Napoli’s defense. Hojlund praised De Bruyne’s professionalism, saying, “Of course he wanted to play this game, but he understands the coach decides and we have to respect his choices, whether it’s Kevin or anyone else.”

“He’s a very, very good player, he wanted to play, but the coach makes the decision,” Hojlund added. Despite the defeat, Napoli can take some positives from the match, particularly in terms of their resilience and determination.

The 2-0 scoreline may not be ideal, but considering the circumstances, it’s not a disastrous result. Napoli will need to regroup and refocus for their upcoming matches.

As Napoli looks to the future, they’ll aim to build on this experience and come back stronger in their upcoming matches. The defeat to Manchester City may have been a setback, but it’s not a defining moment in their campaign.