Hojlund: 'I have more freedom under Allegri, but Napoli need to create more'
Quick summary
Rasmus Hojlund says he has been given more attacking freedom under new Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri, but insists the team must improve its chance creation.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceNapoli striker Rasmus Hojlund admits he feels ‘more freedom’ under Massimiliano Allegri, but the Partenopei ‘didn’t have many chances’ in a 2-1 loss against Como.
Hojlund scored the only goal for Napoli in a home defeat against Como on Sunday.
The Partenopei had won the opening match away at Genoa, so they now have three points from the first two games.
Hojlund: ‘More freedom’ under Allegri NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, looks on during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) “The season is still long, and we can still play for the first spots,” Hojlund told DAZN at full-time via TuttoNapoli.
Allegri said the Partenopei should have been tougher at the back as he pointed out his players had been too “soft” defensively.
“Surely, it’s an aspect we have to improve, but we also have to improve in attack because I think we didn’t have many chances,” said the Dane.
“Last season, Conte was very strict about me having my back to the goal. This season, I have much more freedom, and I hope to score more goals like that.”
NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with coaching staff during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) Hojlund has just begun his second season at Napoli. The Partenopei signed him permanently from Manchester United at the end of his loan spell in 2025-26.
Napoli’s next Serie A match is away at Inter, who beat Cagliari 1-0 away this evening.
After that game, Napoli will make their 2026-27 Champions League debut at home against Arsenal on September 9.
Hojlund, 23, has now scored 17 goals in 46 Napoli games, and his contract at the Stadio Maradona runs out in June 2030.
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What happened
Rasmus Hojlund has opened up about his early impressions of working under Massimiliano Allegri at Napoli, praising the tactical freedom he has been afforded compared to previous setups. The Danish striker, however, acknowledged that Napoli as a collective need to do more in terms of creating goalscoring opportunities. The comments come as Allegri begins his tenure in Naples, reshaping the team's attacking identity and giving Hojlund license to operate more fluidly in the final third.
Chance analysis
Hojlund's remarks offer a window into Allegri's early tactical reshaping of Napoli. Granting a centre-forward more positional freedom is a notable philosophical shift from Allegri's traditionally structured systems, and it could be significant for how the Dane settles in Italy. His candid admission about chance creation, however, points to a side still finding its attacking rhythm under a new regime — a relevant signal for anyone tracking Napoli's evolving output.
Hojlund's role under Allegri looks more liberated, which is positive for his individual output, though Napoli's overall attacking coherence remains a work in progress.