Napoli reached the Super Cup final, and Antonio Conte spoke with the tone of someone who expected a lot but acknowledged the value of the performance. "When you play every three days, with only a few men available, it's inevitable that your energy levels won't always be at their peak, and therefore you can experience lapses. It's happened before, and it will happen again.", the Italian coach declared to Mediaset. "Today, however, the boys played a serious game and honored the Scudetto on their shirts. We're here not by invitation, but because we deserved it. That's good."
Conte then underlined the characteristics of Napoli's game: “We need to always have a lot of energy, because we play a demanding football”. It's still: "We're doing well physically, but when you get a lot of games and are forced to keep playing the same players, something gets lost. We were coming off important matches against Atalanta, Roma, Juventus, and the Coppa Italia. We paid the price against Benfica. In Udine, the first half was good, but we could have done better in the second half. Today, however, we played very well."
Conte: "Lukaku is important. He has a significant impact in the dressing room."
The key concept remains one: "We've managed to be a team. When we're like this, we're competitive regardless of who's playing. The new players are more engaged in the project." Then the gaze shifts to the infirmary and future prospects: "I always said this year would be difficult, but I didn't expect so many serious injuries. Now we're trying to get Lukaku back. He has international experience and a significant career behind him. He has a significant impact in the locker room."
Conte also explains some symbolic choices: "Today we brought him to the bench, as well as Olivera, to boost the team. I hope there are plenty of games to play. We might use two strikers together, as we already did with Hojlund and Lucca." And on tactical solutions: "Some players, Elmas above all, are adapting to different roles. Lobotka's return was crucial. McTominay performs great with him at his side." Closing without preferences: "I have no preference as to who we'll face between Inter and Bologna. We wanted the final."
Conte applauds Napoli: "A courageous victory, but we did everything ourselves."
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.
Napoli heads to Genoa, Conte reunites with Rrahmani at Marassi for the Champions League race.
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.
Conte on Napoli's transfer window: "We're the only ones with a €240 million profit, and they've blocked us..."
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
Choose the social channel you want to subscribe to