As Napoli look to bounce back from consecutive defeats against Lazio in both the Coppa Italia and Serie A, midfielder Billy Gilmour has offered insights into how he and teammate Scott McTominay are adapting to life in Naples. Speaking to Radio Crc, Gilmour revealed their unique approach to immersing themselves in the local culture.
The Scottish midfielder began by acknowledging the strong Neapolitan identity: “It’s strong, very passionate, just like us Scots. I felt it immediately.” Gilmour then elaborated on his adjustment to life in Italy: “I’ve been here for three and a half months, and obviously it’s not easy to move to a new culture. I’m making progress, learning Italian, and among the words I know are ‘bravissimo’ and ‘forza Napoli’. I’m doing everything I can to help my teammates.”
Reflecting on the challenges of Italian football, Gilmour noted: “The matches are very tough in terms of organization; it’s not easy to face the opponents. Here, however, we work every day to ensure we get as many points as possible in the standings.”
When asked about his relationship with manager Antonio Conte, Gilmour recalled their time at Chelsea: “There’s a famous photo of when I was in the youth sector and trained with the first team when he was in London. It was a very important experience for my growth, and from that team, I definitely remember Cesc Fabregas as a reference point. He gave me the opportunity to grow.”
Gilmour also touched on his experience with Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton: “Did he change my career? Yes, he certainly had an important impact. He gave me many teachings that changed my way of playing. It was important to have him for my career and my growth path. There are common points between him and Conte: they always ask for the maximum during training, they can give you so much to grow.”
Addressing Napoli’s recent losses to Lazio, Gilmour said: “We’ve reviewed the games, and we’re certainly not happy with how they went. With Conte, we’ve understood how to be better on the field, how to help each other during the game to increase our level. There’s a desire to be positive and proactive to improve and find better results.”
Perhaps the most intriguing revelation came when Gilmour was asked who between him and McTominay was more ‘Neapolitan’. He responded: “Probably he’s a bit ahead in the process of ‘Neapolitanization’. We study Neapolitan, but we also do it through songs: we listen to Geolier, there are two or three songs that I listen to more. The first approach was with taxi drivers in the car.”
