Chelsea have become the first team to beat Antonio Conte's Napoli at home since Lazio's 1-0 victory over the Partenopei in December 2024.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring for Chelsea with a penalty in the 19th minute, only for the home side to hit back and take a 2-1 lead. The midfielder was full of praise for his teammates' excellent display as they fought back to claim the win, a feat achieved at a stadium where many teams have failed to secure three points.
"This was a fantastic game, and we deserved this victory. I want to thank my teammates for this win today and for the tremendous effort they put in at such a tough stadium to conquer.
Napoli haven't lost at home in a long time, and I'm extremely happy with this win and our qualification.
As I said, I think we are making constant progress. We have now qualified for the Round of 16, and we can look forward to the draw next.
We have a really good team with so many quality players, a great group of lads. So we will take it one step at a time with confidence. Obviously, we believe in our abilities, we are a great team, and we will keep pushing forward."
After coolly converting his penalty, Fernandez pointed to the sky in a tribute to his legendary compatriot Diego Maradona. The Argentine icon helped Napoli lift the Serie A title twice in 1987 and 1990, and led Argentina to the World Cup trophy in 1986. Long before his passing in 2020, he had already attained iconic status in both Napoli and Argentina.
Scoring at the stadium now named after Diego Armando Maradona meant the world to Chelsea's Argentine midfielder, and the goal was the perfect cherry on top as it helped his team qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.
"I feel a profound connection with him. All Argentines share a deep bond with him because he made an immense contribution to Argentine football, and to world football as a whole. Honestly, scoring a goal here is something truly special. Of course, I'm delighted we won the game, that's what really matters.
"This is Diego's stadium. I resonate deeply with him. The football legacy he left behind is incredibly meaningful for us Argentines. Tonight, we played at his stadium, in his name. It's incredible to see his pictures everywhere on the streets and his flags flying high."
Expanded Description (158 characters)
Enzo Fernandez stated Chelsea fully deserved their away win over Conte's Napoli, becoming the first team to beat Napoli at home since Lazio in December 2024. He scored a 19th-minute penalty to open the scoring, then pointed to the sky to tribute Maradona, admitting a profound bond with the legend and that scoring at Maradona's stadium meant a lot. Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League Round of 16.
