Former Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho helped Chelsea edge past Napoli, and subsequently knocked Rasmus Hojlund and his team-mates out of the Champions League
Rasmus Hojlund was left disappointed by Napoli’s exit as former Man United teammate Alejandro Garnacho played a role in the defeat.(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund was left frustrated as former team-mate Alejandro Garnacho helped end Napoli’s Champions League hopes.
Antonio Conte’s side missed out on qualification for the playoff stages to reach the knockouts of the elite European competition after losing 3-2 to Chelsea in Naples. Hojlund continued his rich-vein of form for the Serie A giants and netted an important second goal for Napoli to restore their first-half lead.
However, the Londoners fought back and a Joao Pedro double was enough to see Chelsea into the round of 16 while results went against the Italian side, meaning they were eliminated from the competition at the League Phase.
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The Danish striker, who is on loan from United until the end of the season, voiced his frustration at being eliminated from the Champions League and highlighted how Chelsea bringing on the likes of Garnacho and Cole Palmer swung the game in the Premier League sides’ favour.
He said: “It’s frustrating but we played against a great opponent today.
“Of course we wanted more out of this game and we wanted to win so we could go through, but it’s not [just] in this game we should have got our points.
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“We had a couple of games against Copenhagen and Frankfurt where we should probably have done a bit better.
“Yeah, completely agree. There was good energy in the team.
“I don’t want to make any excuses but we are very short on the team right now and you could probably see that a little bit in the second half.
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho have impressed since leaving Manchester United(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“They put on Garnacho and Cole Palmer and these sorts of players which are incredible.
“We’re struggling a little bit with the energy after the 60th minute.”
The 22-year-old has three goals in seven Champions League appearances during a difficult campaign in Europe for Napoli. Hojlund has a further six efforts and two assists in Serie A with Conte’s side in a fight for Champions League football.
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