On the eve of the big match between Napoli and Atalanta, the Azzurri coach Antonio Conte spoke at a press conference, taking stock of the season and commenting on the difficulties encountered by the team after the sales of key players.
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"We have made 47 points so far, the result of a great job. If we analyze the situation, this team, compared to the one that won the Scudetto, is without Kvara, Kim, Osimhen, Zielinski, as well as Mario Rui and Elmas", declared Conte. “Everyone can judge whether Napoli comes out of this weakened or strengthened, but we are aware that we are another Napoli”.
The coach stressed the weight of Kvaratskhelia's recent departure: “With Kvara leaving we will be a different team, but we have to keep working. Work is what has brought us to this point, we have been at the top several times and credit for this goes to the lads. Now we have 18 games ahead of us, and we will need to maintain our ambition”.
The experience in Naples and the relationship with the club
Asked about the future after Kvaratskhelia's departure, Conte replied: “This is a question for the club. I arrived at a difficult time, I married this project and this city with its passion. We know what our limits are compared to other clubs, but this does not mean we can give up being ambitious”.
Conte then added a message of determination: "We have never complained and we will not. There have always been difficulties, but we will try to face them by recreating the necessary chemistry, even with the new additions." Looking ahead to the match against Atalanta, Conte praised the team Gasperini.
“Atalanta is a consolidated reality, as demonstrated by performances like the one against Real Madrid. They have gained confidence and awareness that they can compete with anyone”. For Napoli, however, the focus remains internal: "We need to focus on ourselves, grow and continue to fuel the passion of our fans. These games are useful for measuring ourselves and understanding how much we lack to compete at the highest levels."
An open ranking and no proclamations
Conte closed with a look at the standings and the future path: "We are in the lead, but with Atalanta and Inter close by. I don't feel like talking about a Scudetto challenge yet, there are still many steps to take. Our goal is to continue to put points in the bag without looking too much at the others."
Article published on 17 January 2025 - 15:17
