Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted Gonzalo Higuain played well despite the Argentine failing to set the heather on fire on his return to Napoli.
The €90 million striker hit just one shot on target and took no touches inside the Napoli box as the Azzurri held Serie A leaders Juve to a 1-1 draw.
It was instead Sami Khedira who scored for the Bianconeri, with Napoli captain Marek Hamsik earning the hosts their share of the points.
After full-time Allegri gave his backing to Higuain, who was subjected to a hostile reception from the supporters he entertained with 36 league goals last term.
Allegri told juventus.com: “Higuain played a good game, especially in the first half and at the beginning of the second.
“He should be grateful to Napoli, as much as Napoli must be to him, because professional roads often take you elsewhere – I think that’s just part of life.”
On the result, which protected Juve’s ten-point lead over Napoli, Allegri added: “Titles are won when you take home important points from games like this.
“Napoli had a good game and we must congratulate our opponents. Sometimes we weren’t very bright in possession but we anticipated the difficulties this match might throw our way and so it was a major achievement.
“It was not an easy night for us, and the boys went into it calmly, defending in an organised manner.”
Juve must return to the Stadio San Paolo tomorrow for a Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg showdown with Napoli, and Allegri will not entertain thoughts of marching on towards a sixth straight Scudetto – or getting past Barcelona in the Champions League – until that obstacle has been hurdled.
“We have a six-point lead (over Roma) and we have eight games left to play, four of which are at home,” he said.
“It’s clear that we are aiming to win the league, but now we must focus all our energy on getting to the Coppa Italia final in Rome.”
On the Barca match, he added: “Once you get to the quarter-finals you know you must fear your opponent, and they will be scared of us too, because you must have great respect for your opponent. We will do everything we can to get through.”
Coppa Italia SFs, second legs
Today: 20.45 Roma vs Lazio.
Tomorrow: 20.45 Napoli vs Juventus.