McTominay: ‘I think about Napoli title all the time, Premier League is chaotic’ | OneFootball

Scott McTominay explains the difference between the ‘chaotic’ Premier League and Serie A, why he can ‘flourish’ at Napoli, and what he ‘thinks about all the time’ in the Scudetto race.

The Scotland international already went viral a few weeks ago when admitting moving to Italy had allowed him to enjoy the simple delight of eating tomatoes, whereas in his homeland they tasted “like red water.”

He has flourished on the pitch too, bagging a brace in last night’s 3-0 victory over Empoli to beat his personal best goal tally set at Manchester United.

“I’m a football player who definitely has some fire inside of me whenever I enter onto the pitch,” McTominay told the Lega Serie A YouTube Channel.

“Football means to me love, passion for the fans and the people you’re playing for. I love playing football, it’s been my life since I was five years old.”

Leaving Manchester United for Napoli was a big step for the player, but one he is relishing.

“The Premier League and Serie A are very, very different. I feel like in Italy it’s more tactical and in the Premier League it can be a little bit more chaotic at times, backwards and forwards, more like a basketball game,” continued McTominay.

“Football has changed so much, we have so many athletic players, strong, fast, good with the ball, technically, tactically. It has changed dramatically over the last 5-10 years, so the little details are important.

“I take notice of everything that goes into my game, nutrition, training, and if you have a good system behind you, you’ll never go below that level. I tried throughout my career to be a good professional and a good person too.”

Scott McTominay celebrates for Napoli (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli won their third Scudetto in 2023, ending a wait of over 30 years for the Serie A title, and are now challenging Inter for top spot.

“It’s a privilege to be an athlete and to live in this environment, which obviously I should thrive in,” noted McTominay.

“I play for Napoli, the team of Maradona, and in Serie A, a very tough league with such amazing teams as well. A beautiful country, somewhere that I’ve actually not been throughout my life, which is surprising, because I love the culture here.

“I love the food, I love the way that people are, they’re so welcoming as well, and it’s got so many amazing different cities. Being able to experience that is incredible.

“I just want to continue giving my best and perform at a top level, so hopefully people can see I give my all every time I step onto the pitch. That’s all you can do as a football player, is do your best.

“This city is ancient with incredible history, there are churches, castles, royal palaces, monuments, the port, the modern business district, but also the alleys and small squares,” continued McTominay.

“It feels like being in a separate state, with the history and amount of things to do. My friend Pasquale and my chef Mario are Neapolitan, so he educates me on some of the things in the city and different foods, the history of Naples.

“When I first arrived, it was a very important day, the 19th of September, I didn’t know what was happening and he explained it. San Gennaro.”

This is the day when the blood of the patron Saint of the city is shown to the people, and if it liquefies, it means a good year is coming up for Naples.

Living at the foot of an active volcano is one of the reasons why the people of Naples are famously the most superstitious in Italy.

NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 14: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between Napoli and Empoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 14, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I lived in Manchester for a large part of my life, but Naples was a strong decision to come here,” continued McTominay.

“You grow up when you leave your comfort zone, so my comfort zone was obviously Manchester. I’ve been there my whole life, I went to school there too. If you can take that step, you begin to flourish more as a person and as a football player.

“As a kid, I always grew up watching players like Zinedine Zidane and Wayne Rooney, try to emulate them as much as possible. I just wanted to be similar to them and have characteristics I could emulate in my game as well.”

There are few sides in the world with a fanbase as passionate as Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

“Almost every match that we go to when we see the fans, it raises you up, it brings that fire out inside you that every player should have to perform at the best level at all times.

“If a game goes really well, we’re so grateful, as we know how much it means to the fans. If it doesn’t go well, we are looking at ourselves thinking we have to be as passionate as the people. That is something you can take through your career,” continued McTominay.

“The passion of the Napoli fans is incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest. From the moment I arrived at the airport, I was blown away with how amazing and passionate the people were and it was almost like they were here to see me. It was so surprising, I have nothing but love and gratitude for them.

“What I want to give to the people here is the Championship, it’s the most important thing I feel like I need in my career as well.

“I think about it all the time, I want to be the guy that gets us there and I want to push us in the right direction by giving everything on the pitch and having no regrets at the end of the season,” concluded McTominay.