Antonio Conte doesn't hide his anxiety. After Napoli's defeat to Bologna, the coach spoke frankly to DAZN and revealed his concern for a team that seems to have lost the spark that made it great. "They had more energy in everything, more enthusiasm, more positivity. That's what I'm most disappointed about. We did our homework until the game was even, then we let up. That's not the team I want to see; they need a different energy than what I've been noticing at the start of the season."
Conte goes beyond the analysis of the match and exposes a deeper malaise. This is our fifth defeat since the start of the year, which means something isn't going right. We mustn't forget that after winning the Scudetto, Napoli finished tenth: that season should have taught us much more. Last year we did something extraordinary, but now we have to ask ourselves whether we're working with the same hunger or whether someone is just resting on their laurels.
Harsh words, filled with warning and self-criticism. “I'm sorry I haven't been able to change this energy yet – admits Conte – because it means I'm not doing a good job." A self-awareness that sounds like a message to the team, called upon to rediscover character and determination. The only positive note of the evening, according to the coach, was Hojlund: "He was perhaps our best player on the pitch."
Comments (1)
What Conte says is very interesting, but there are many areas for improvement. The team seems to lack energy and motivation. Let's hope they can regain the right energy for the rest of the season.