Walter Mazzari missed team bus, took taxi home after loss to Mourinho’s Roma

Walter Mazzari had extra worries after his Napoli side were beaten 2-0 by Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in the last game before Christmas.

The reigning Italian Serie A champions have not had it smooth this season and have changed managers already, sacking Rudi Garcia last month for Mazzari.

The game was goalless in the first 75 minutes before Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring. Romelu Lukaku added the second after Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano were sent off.

Both teams also had their managers shown yellow cards after a melee broke out in the first half, and Mourinho confronted Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Mazzari was so engrossed in his media duties post-match that the team bus left him behind at the Stadio Olimpico, as it could not wait and transported the players instead.

As reported by Football Italia, he had to order a taxi, which drove him home from Rome to Naples in the middle of the night, compounding his nightmares for the day.

Since taking over the club, he has guided the team to five losses and three wins, including a soul-crushing 4-0 loss to Frosinone in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.

The Neapolitans are seventh on the Serie A table with 27 points, four points behind Bologna, who have 31 points and are fourth. They host Monza next at Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Osimhen and Politano will miss their next games after their red cards. Per Complete Sport, the Nigerian has been struggling under the 62-year-old, but the manager is confident he will regain his form.