Antonio Conte never speaks casually. On the eve of the Champions League away match against PSV Eindhoven, the Napoli coach uses measured yet meaningful tones. “For us the Champions League must be a school — he explained to Sky Sport microphones —. The elite of European football are here, and we need to understand where we are and how we fit in. It's a learning process, not a test of maturity."
Conte looks ahead with pragmatism, remembering that the Napoli This year is a work in progress, with new additions, injuries, and evolving schemes. "We lost to City and won against Sporting, but without last year's starting defense. No one seems to care. We're facing complex situations, but I don't want to overemphasize them: we have faith in all the players. We don't have to exalt or destroy, we need balance."
On the tactical evolution of the team, Tale He also focuses on some individuals, starting with Kevin De Bruyne, one of his key men: “It is undergoing a significant evolution.
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Politano: "Tomorrow is a chance to bounce back after the defeat in Eindhoven. We need anger and pride."
Conte fires back: "Unfair criticism, but we're first! Napoli are a nuisance, and everyone knows it."
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Conte: "McTominay to be evaluated, Hojlund out. Lucca to start."
The Italian coach is also keeping a close eye on Beukema and Lang, two players who are going through different stages of adaptation. "Beukema had an easier learning curve; he already knows Italian football and is working well. He needs to keep it up. Lang, on the other hand, is improving tactically: before he had more attacking freedom, now he needs to learn to manage different spaces and movements. He's on the right track, but he needs to keep working."
There's no shortage of thoughts about the infirmary, with some doubts ahead of the match. "McTominay hasn't trained fully, so we'll evaluate his condition. Hojlund is out, so it'll be Lucca's turn. Against the Dutch champions, we'll need balance and concentration: we need to field a solid, compact team."
Conte concludes with a reflection that is almost a manifesto of his approach to European Naples: "Last year we were outsiders, today we're in the cups, with new tactics and players. It takes time, confidence, and patience. But every Champions League match is a lesson that helps us grow."
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