Antonio Conte approaches the eve of Napoli-Qarabag with the clarity of mind of someone who knows the Champions League doesn't forgive lapses in pace or superficiality. The feelings he's felt after the win against Atalanta comfort him, but they don't diminish the weight of the task awaiting the Azzurri.

“We arrive at the appointment with the right energy”, he explained to Sky Sport, emphasizing how Saturday's race offered convincing signals in a far from simple context. Now, however, the margin for error is zero: "We'll need a lot of energy against a team that plays aggressive, fast-paced football. We'll have to be alert and find consistency."

The match also carries a special significance, as it falls on the anniversary of Diego Armando Maradona's passing. Conte makes no secret of his desire to pay tribute on the pitch: "We know what he meant and still means to Naples. It would be nice to dedicate a victory to him." On the other side is a team that is surprising Europe, with seven points in the standings and a show of strength that was even narrowly missed against Chelsea. “There's quality, there are a lot of foreigners, we need a total match”, the coach reiterated.

Conte: "A three-man defense is the only option. Lukaku isn't ready."

On the injury front, the coach makes no secret of his frustration over a season plagued by constant emergencies. "We can't control who we have at our disposal. Since the beginning of the year, we've continued to make a virtue of necessity. Coaches have to find solutions and manage these moments, but I hope to have more choice soon." Conte then clarified some substitutions from the last match: "Hojlund and Rrahmani were technical-tactical choices; they'd spent a lot. It's best to let the doctors speak about Gilmour and Spinazzola: they're not muscular problems, and I don't know their timetable yet."

The choice of a three-man defense, which came as a small tactical revolution, was not born from a carefully planned plan but from an urgent need for personnel. “The shift to a three-man defense is the result of an emergency, not so much for the back line but for the two-man midfield.”, he explained at a press conference, emphasizing that the goal was to retain a quality alternative—like Elmas—even if he's out of position. Adaptation, however, is never immediate: "You can't change a system just like that, you have to work at it. Teams often defend with one system and attack with another."

Amidst the challenges, Conte demands clarity and a spirit of sacrifice. The coach finds himself constructing solutions every week, while the list of unavailable players continues to impact his decisions and rotations. The importance of key players is also evident when it comes to Romelu Lukaku, whom the coach openly puts on hold: "He's not ready for Roma; he still has a lot of work to do. His importance is clear from every perspective. He's been undergoing treatment for months in Belgium: it's a tight-knit situation where everyone has to contribute, some playing and some supporting the team from within."