Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Lorenzo Insigne have been a welcome impetus for the team seeking to reclaim the ground they lost to Serie A leaders Juventus.

The relationship has been strained since Ancelotti took charge last year, while Insigne has admitted that he has always lost his temper while working with the coach.

Ancelotti ran out of patience at the end of September when he ruled out Insigny for the second game in a row, leaving the striker on the bench in Wednesday's Champions League match against Salzburg.

But the atmosphere became better after the 28-year-old captain - the only player born in Naples - was substituted for the winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Austrian.

"I have some disagreements with the coach but we have overcome them all, I respect him very much. He is a great coach who always gives me confidence and makes me feel important," he said. "I was wrong in some of my actions.

"I told him before the game that he would play and I was decisive," Ancelotti replied.

Napoli, three-time runners-up in the last four seasons, are six points behind leaders Juventus and will visit Spal on Sunday.

Insigne has played for Napoli since he was 15, although he has spent loan spells with Cafese, Foggia and Pescara.

His speed, short stature and domination of the ball make him a nightmare for defenders.

Strange relationship
Ancelotti was given the captaincy for Insigne in February, but the frustration of the player appears on some occasions, prompting club president Aurelio de Lorientes to intervene at some point. He said Insigni should be calm. uncomfortable".

Insigny described his relationship with Ancelotti as "a bit strange."

"Sometimes, there are disagreements, but this is because we have two independent characters," he said this month. "Sometimes when I'm tired or stressed during training, I may end up answering his observations, but things end there."

"I look cocky for them, and I think they have a picture of me that is really different from what I am. I want to be close to all the fans because I do my best for this shirt," Insigne said.

He also seems tired of his team always in the runners-up. "It's time for Napoli to win. We've waited too long," he said.