Napoli captain Giovanni di Lorenzo has dismissed doubts about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgia has battled for consistency this season.
But after their stalemate with Champions League opponents Real Sociedad, Di Lorenzo said: Di Lorenzo: "Nobody should allow themselves to criticise Kvaratskhelia, for what he is doing and for what he did last season.
"Nowadays people make judgments only by looking at the highlights, but if you see what he does during the match he's very important for us.
"He only needs a goal to finally free himself, but he is an exceptional boy and player, no one should allow himself to criticize him."