Antonio Conte isn't ignoring the issue, and on the eve of the Champions League match against Copenhagen, he immediately makes his point clear. "These are important, decisive matches. Tomorrow, both we and them will have to look for a win, because another result wouldn't be positive," says the Italian coach, aware of the specific weight of the match on Danish soil.
Between one joke and another, Conte jokes about injuries, saying he brought "medicine for everyone," but his tone quickly changes when he delves into the emergency Napoli has been facing for weeks. "We have to think about who's here, always trying to find solutions. We've been doing this since the beginning of the year, not just recently. The players who are here are the most important, the ones we have to try to achieve something with," he emphasizes.
Regarding Romelu Lukaku's situation, the coach urges everyone not to raise false expectations. "Romelu has only been with the group for two days. Last week, he only took part in a few minutes of training. Now he's training at a more intense pace: when he's ready, he'll contribute, but the fact that he's with us is already important."
There's also a joke about goals, which lightens the tension for a moment. "As for strikers? I only have one striker," he says, smiling. "The important thing is to score goals. Whether one or the other scores doesn't really matter."
The injury problem, however, remains a key issue, and Conte doesn't hide it. "The solution is very clear: we're trying to hold firm. We're doing well, but it's inevitable that we're in serious trouble. Now Neres has also injured his tendon. It's not a question of the pitches or anything else; these have been strange years. Maybe there's a lot of negativity coming from outside, but we have to focus on doing our best. We're not magicians, there are no magicians: we're trying to honor the jersey we wear as much as possible."
Finally, a look at the journey on the Azzurri bench, always with our feet firmly planted in the present. "We're on a journey; we're halfway through our second year. But right now, we're living in the present, which is the most important thing. We're focused on trying to do our best tomorrow. With the present, you build the future: if you don't do well today, you can't look beyond."
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)
Antonio Conte is right to say that matches are important. But I don't understand why there are so many injuries. Preparation must be improved, otherwise it will be difficult to continue with the season.