Carlo Ancelotti sack rumours emerge as Napoli respond to training mutiny

Rumours are surfacing that Carlo Ancelotti could quit or even be sacked as Napoli manager amid reports of a training retreat mutiny.

The Partenopei have suffered a poor start to the season, already drifting to seventh in the Serie A table, 11 points behind leaders Juventus.

Mutiny at Napoli? Five things to know…

• Napoli have made a poor start to the season and are already 11 points behind Juventus.
• They also drew 1-1 at home to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.
• Ancelotti refused to carry out his media duties after the match.
• And further reports suggest he led a mutiny against a training retreat enforced by Aurelio De Laurentiis.
• Napoli have released a statement saying they hold Ancelotti solely responsible for that decision and that legal action will be taken against their players.

Things got even worse on Tuesday after Napoli could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, with the club’s players reportedly going straight back to their homes after the match when they were, in fact, meant to remain at a training retreat enforced by owner Aurelio De Laurentiis until Saturday’s clash with Genoa.

After Tuesday’s match, Ancelotti refused to carry out media duties and risks being fined by Uefa, with De Laurentiis reportedly saying of the manager’s choice: “I don’t agree with the decision.”

But forward Lorenzo Insigne came out in support of his manager, insisting Ancelotti is responsible for the “close-knit” nature of the group and that he and his teammates are remaining positive.

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“We’re a close-knit group and that’s down to the coach as he maintains calm and has tried to take the pressure off us in this difficult spell,” he said.

“We’re grateful to him and we all want to perform well for him. He helps us so much and he deserves success.

“We must look forward and think positive. Everything is in our hands and we’re determined to wrap up qualification in our two remaining games.”

Further reports suggest Insigne told De Laurentiis’ son, Edoardo, of the mutiny: “We’re going home to our houses… you can tell that to your father.”

But regardless of having the support of his players, Ancelotti is facing one of football’s most controversial and outspoken owners in De Laurentiis and if reports from Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport are to be believed, this could soon turn into a race for who can pull the trigger first; resign or be sacked?

New details in Napoli mutiny (5)!

Napoli official statement saying that will protect its interest in all the ways (!) and that from now on that decision on retreat will be Ancelotti solely responsibility

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) November 6, 2019

Napoli released a club statement on their official website essentially confirming they will be taking legal action against members of their playing squad, while they will be holding Ancelotti solely responsible for the decision not to head to the training retreat.

It read: “The club announces that, with reference to the behaviour of the players yesterday, Tuesday November 5 2019, it will proceed to protect its rights on an economic, capital, image and disciplinary levels in every competent jurisdiction.

“It is also made clear that the responsibility to decide on ordering days in a training retreat lies with coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“A press silence has been ordered from now until a date yet to be decided.”