Napoli triumphed in the Italian Super Cup, giving fans a peaceful Christmas, while Antonio Conte praised his team's impeccable performance, emphasizing the importance of trophies in football and the daily commitment to improving players.
Napoli won the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh, and Antonio Conte appeared before Sport Mediaset with the satisfaction of someone who saw his team respond on the pitch. "The boys played two impeccable matches. They really wanted to win, and we wanted to give our fans this trophy and have a peaceful Christmas, with a trophy in our trophy cabinet," said the Napoli coach immediately after the victory over Bologna.
Conte emphasizes the value of victory and the weight of trophies in football. "Winners stay. Two years ago, Napoli lost the Super Cup final to Inter, but few remember they got that far. It had already been a great journey, but in football, it's the winners that count. No one remembers the finalists. As a player, I lost a lot, and when you lose, your resentment increases because you never want to relive that moment."
The coach doesn't forget his opponent and recognizes the merits of the rossoblù. "Congratulations also to Bologna, a great team in our football, and to Italiano," he emphasizes, before bringing the discussion back to a realistic level. "I don't feel like saying Napoli is leading in Italy. We're not ready. Last year we won the Scudetto by a narrow margin, and this year it's not easy to stay in the top four."
The final, however, remains a clear test of strength. "Tonight we played a great match from every perspective. We created so many chances, specifically designed to cause problems for our opponents," Conte explained, emphasizing the daily work he puts into the group. "I work hard to expand my players' knowledge, to help them improve tactically, technically, and mentally. Hojlund and McTominay didn't play in Manchester. They play here, there must be a reason."
A tough, hard-fought victory, earned through character rather than skill. Antonio Conte savoured Napoli's victory at Marassi, but he didn't soften his analysis in front of the cameras. "I think it's a courageous victory, but we did everything we could. Genoa's goals were two of our own mistakes, and it wasn't easy to bounce back, but we did it," he said immediately after the match, emphasizing how the match was complicated primarily by internal responsibilities.
The Italian coach, however, highlighted the mental strength of the team, capable of reacting even in the most difficult moments. "Even with ten men against eleven, we never stopped attacking, and in fact, the final penalty came that won us the match. This team never gives up; every week there's a new challenge." These words describe a team under pressure, yet still alive and determined.
Win again to maintain their European run. Napoli prepares for the trip to Marassi with a clear objective: to follow up on their victory against Fiorentina and consolidate their position at the top of the table. Maintaining a solid position in the top four is an absolute priority, both sportingly and financially, and Antonio Conte wants no letup against a Genoa side that has historically proven difficult at home.
The good news for the coach comes from the defense, where Amir Rrahmani returns. The Kosovar center-back has overcome a gluteal injury and will return to the starting eleven. It remains to be seen whether he will be deployed in the center or as the right-back in a three-man defense, a solution that would open up Buongiorno's central position ahead of Meret and Juan Jesus on the left-center position. This is a significant return to a defense that will have to do without captain Di Lorenzo, who is sidelined: the defender took advantage of his time out for foot surgery related to a knee problem.
The victory against Fiorentina isn't enough to ease the tension at Napoli. Antonio Conte appears before the microphones with a drawn face and words that weigh like boulders, a mixture of bitter irony and suppressed anger. The focus isn't on the team's performance, but on the transfer market situation and the delicate moment the group is experiencing.
"I see that other teams are making significant preparations for the transfer market. They've actually blocked ours: I think that's fantastic." The coach uses a clear sarcasm, leaving little room for interpretation. Then he doubles down, bringing up the club's finances: "We're the only club with €240 million in cash and a profit, and they're preventing us from making any transfers. They really are number one."
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Napoli played a good match and the fans are happy, but I don't know if it's fair to say we're dominating in Italy. Conte is right to say that there are still many challenges ahead and the season is long.