Empoli – A bout of flu forced coach Roberto D'Aversa to skip the pre-match press conference. His assistant, Salvatore Sullo, took the floor instead, recounting the eve of the match against Napoli, expressing confidence in his team's quality.
“We will face Napoli at our best”, Sullo said. “You have to manage a defeat by thinking about the performance, just like we do when we win. We also had positive responses against Lazio.” Sullo then took stock of the physical condition of the players: "Viti had some problems, but he has recovered. Everyone is available for the starting lineup, and it will be up to D'Aversa to make the final decisions. Henderson or Anjorin? We will need everyone, the games last 90 minutes."
Regarding Napoli, Sullo praised the opponent, calling it “the best team in the league, full of great players, very organised and aggressive.” Sullo highlighted the need to match Napoli's intensity: “We will have to match their hunger and desire to prevail both in individual duels and as a team.”
Sullo also responded to Antonio's compliments Tale, thanking but underlining that Empoli is focused on its objective: "We can't dwell on points and compliments. When you face such strong teams you have to give your all; the result will be a consequence, not an obsession." Finally, Sullo downplayed the impact of the championship break: "It's not up to us, it's part of the game. They've always been there, and we know the rules."
A tough, hard-fought victory, earned through character rather than skill. Antonio Conte savoured Napoli's victory at Marassi, but he didn't soften his analysis in front of the cameras. "I think it's a courageous victory, but we did everything we could. Genoa's goals were two of our own mistakes, and it wasn't easy to bounce back, but we did it," he said immediately after the match, emphasizing how the match was complicated primarily by internal responsibilities.
The Italian coach, however, highlighted the mental strength of the team, capable of reacting even in the most difficult moments. "Even with ten men against eleven, we never stopped attacking, and in fact, the final penalty came that won us the match. This team never gives up; every week there's a new challenge." These words describe a team under pressure, yet still alive and determined.
Win again to maintain their European run. Napoli prepares for the trip to Marassi with a clear objective: to follow up on their victory against Fiorentina and consolidate their position at the top of the table. Maintaining a solid position in the top four is an absolute priority, both sportingly and financially, and Antonio Conte wants no letup against a Genoa side that has historically proven difficult at home.
The good news for the coach comes from the defense, where Amir Rrahmani returns. The Kosovar center-back has overcome a gluteal injury and will return to the starting eleven. It remains to be seen whether he will be deployed in the center or as the right-back in a three-man defense, a solution that would open up Buongiorno's central position ahead of Meret and Juan Jesus on the left-center position. This is a significant return to a defense that will have to do without captain Di Lorenzo, who is sidelined: the defender took advantage of his time out for foot surgery related to a knee problem.
The victory against Fiorentina isn't enough to ease the tension at Napoli. Antonio Conte appears before the microphones with a drawn face and words that weigh like boulders, a mixture of bitter irony and suppressed anger. The focus isn't on the team's performance, but on the transfer market situation and the delicate moment the group is experiencing.
"I see that other teams are making significant preparations for the transfer market. They've actually blocked ours: I think that's fantastic." The coach uses a clear sarcasm, leaving little room for interpretation. Then he doubles down, bringing up the club's finances: "We're the only club with €240 million in cash and a profit, and they're preventing us from making any transfers. They really are number one."
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Comments (1)
It seems that the assistant coach has clear ideas and the team is focused on the match. We will see what will happen on the pitch.