McTominay: ‘Football becoming soft’, Napoli and Conte ‘unlucky’ | OneFootball

Napoli star Scott McTominay notes that ‘football is becoming soft’ as ‘even the slightest of contact can lead to a yellow card.’

Napoli and Scotland star McTominay feels football has been changing the wrong way in recent years, especially when it comes to tackles and challenges on the pitch.

The former Manchester United midfielder spoke to Corriere dello Sport after a week of controversy following Inter-Juventus, during which the Bianconeri defender Pierre Kalulu received a second yellow card for a foul on Alessandro Bastoni, who, however, appeared to go down too easily.

McTominay: ‘Football is becoming soft’

NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Scott McTominay of SSC Napoli shoots to score his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I think football is becoming soft; some decisions are just too lenient,” McTominay said.

“I wasn’t accustomed to these feelings when I was a kid, when we were taught to tackle fairly and with strength. Now, even the slightest of contact can lead to a yellow card. It’s not up to me to draw conclusions, but I feel there’s too much attention and excessive sensitivity.”

Napoli sit third in the Serie A table and have been eliminated from the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

The defending Serie A champions have been hit by many injuries in the current campaign, with players like Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Zambo Anguissa and David Neres forced to the sidelines for months.

McTominay played practically every game from December until two weeks ago, when he suffered a tendon injury in a match against Genoa.

“In moments of difficulty, with many injuries, it’s difficult for the coach and the staff to find the right balance and the best way to play,” the midfielder said.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

“We’ve been unlucky, but that’s no excuse. It’s a serious explanation and must be accepted.”

During the same interview, McTominay said he hopes to return to action on Sunday against Atalanta, although his physical issue must be “managed” properly.

“We train a lot and work hard. That explains last season’s success, winning the league and the Supercup. The work you do behind closed doors shows in matches,” he said.

“The workload and intensity change, but the players follow the instructions and have to give their best every day. Antonio Conte is a great coach, very strong, passionate and knows football extremely well. He’s different from anyone else I’ve had in the past. The sense of uncertainty he instils; with him, you have to give your best, or you’ve got a problem.”