Napoli, Conte challenges Mourinho: "Courage and a clear head against Benfica."

On the eve of the Champions League match away to Benfica, Antonio Conte sets the course for his Napoli: no calculations, but personality and courage.

"Tomorrow we have to come to play in Lisbon with courage, with the desire to do what we work towards every day. Sometimes it works better, sometimes worse, but the goal is to play a good match," the Italian coach declared in a press conference at the Da Luz Stadium.

Conte emphasizes the issue of energy, both physical and mental, after the tour de force of recent weeks: "We're trying to recover the physical and mental energy used against Juventus. We need to recharge after playing on Sunday evening, with little time to prepare for the match."

The coach emphasizes how the team is constantly under pressure: "There have been tough pre-match preparations for the group: Roma, Atalanta, Juve, Qarabag... every match is important for us. We'll need to show desire and focus."

Our opponent, Benfica, is coming off a high-intensity derby against Sporting Lisbon and represents a serious challenge in a traditionally heated atmosphere. "We know we're facing a strong team, coming off a great match against Sporting, who themselves are coming off two league titles, and we're playing in a heated stadium. But we come with our minds clear of negative thoughts, and we'll give our all to emerge with our heads held high, without regrets at the end," Conte assured.

In terms of the group standings, the margin for error is minimal for both teams. "It's an important match: they have three points, we have seven. Benfica must win if they want to aspire to the playoffs, but the same goes for us.

"I hope it's a good match," explained the Italian coach, also responding remotely to José Mourinho, who had highlighted the significant absences in the Portuguese team: "Mourinho said he has significant absences? There's no problem: the injuries are there for all to see."

It's impossible to avoid a question about the opposing coach. Conte is generous with his praise for the Special One: "What do I think of Mourinho as a coach? We're talking about a truly great coach. His resume speaks for itself. I'm happy to meet him; it will be a pleasure to see him again and say hello. I don't think I need to explain to the press who Mourinho is."

The final message is addressed to the locker room and the group's internal growth during a period plagued by injuries: "The team's mindset must be the same as it was before the last few matches. Every game must be important, and we will be fully focused.

In a time of objective difficulty, with one problem a week coming, I appreciate everyone's increased sense of responsibility. Many players who arrived in the summer understood the dynamics, and the fact that they didn't play much initially didn't help their integration. I think there's been an improvement in every way: this growth has come with a great sense of responsibility.