Beyond the disappointing result for Milan, the match was also marked by rising tensions within the squad—none more evident than in the heated moment between Kyle Walker and Joao Felix.
Milan’s UEFA Champions League hopes took a major blow after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The match saw Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku fire the home side into an early lead, leaving Milan with yet another uphill battle under Sergio Conceicao.
Though Luka Jovic managed to pull one back late in the game, it was Santiago Gimenez’s missed penalty in the 67th minute that proved to be the turning point. However, beyond the result, the match was also marked by Christian Pulisic’s selfless move to hand the penalty kick duty to the Mexican, as well as rising tensions within the red and black squad—none more evident than in the heated moment between Kyle Walker and Joao Felix.
Half-time came with Milan down 2-0 in Naples. The seasoned Walker summed up his side’s night with a scathing seven-word rant aimed at the Portuguese, which even included Lionel Messi, criticizing his decision-making.
Felix fails to impress again
Joao Felix arrived at Milan on loan from Chelsea in the winter transfer window, but his impact has been underwhelming. His debut, which featured a stunning chip goal against Roma, raised hopes that he might rediscover the form that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. However, since that game, the 25-year-old has struggled to make any meaningful impact.
Despite these performances, Conceicao continues to trust Felix over Rafael Leao, a decision that backfired against the second-placed squad in Serie A. While the former started the game and offered little, the latter’s introduction in the second half completely changed the team’s attacking threat. As a result, Felix was substituted just 10 minutes after half-time, his night ending in disappointment yet again.
As a result, at halftime, Walker was overheard delivering a sharp reprimand to his teammate, a moment that perfectly captured the team’s struggles.
The seven-word advice that said it all
With the visitors desperate to get back into the game, Felix’s decision-making—or lack thereof—infuriated the English veteran. According to the Daily Mail, cameras caught the English defender telling Felix: “Pass the ball, we are not Messi.”
Walker to Felix “PASS THE BALL WE ARE NOT MESSI”😳😳😳 #Chelsea #ACMilan #NapoliACMilan #CFC pic.twitter.com/7UNFbZCuen
— The African Lad (@TheAfricanLad25) March 31, 2025
It was a clear message: The Chelsea loanee was holding onto the ball for too long, trying to do too much on his own, rather than making the simple, effective play. Milan needed quick, decisive movement, but Felix’s tendency to overcomplicate things was costing the team precious attacking opportunities. In fact, he was substituted shortly after Walker’s comment, with Conceicao seemingly agreeing that the Portuguese forward was not contributing enough.
