Antonio Conte is bitter but undaunted. After the defeat against Chelsea and the team's exit from the Champions League, the Napoli coach praises his team's performance and clearly identifies the outcome of the match. "The finishing made the difference. They were more clinical and more precise, and João Pedro made the difference. He's a truly important player for Chelsea."
Despite the elimination, the judgment on the race remains positive. "We're still proud and satisfied, despite half the team being out, we played, if not on par, better than them in my opinion, we deserved much better." Regret, however, also looks back at the European path. "It's a shame because the regret is for Copenhagen, we were winning and that's the game that condemned us."
Conte recognizes the value of his opponent but does not downplay his Napoli's performance. Chelsea are a top club, they won the Club World Cup and have extraordinary players: I'm proud of the performance of the lads, we played on equal terms and created plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. It's a shame because I think we deserved to reach the playoffs anyway.
Conte: "Sometimes better than them, but the result is a lie."
The analysis then moves on to the incidents and the quality in the final metres. "They were definitely better in terms of quality, especially in the final third. They didn't have as many chances, but they hurt us with them. We got there many times but failed to score, so we need to improve on that." And yet: «Otherwise, we played a great match, we accepted duels, we played good football, this is the way to go».
On the second goal conceded, the Italian coach urges players not to lose their balance. "It's a shame, yes, but we have to realize that these are mistakes that can happen, and we're up against players who punish you right away. It's disappointing because we played a Champions League match. The result is a lie, but we have to accept it and try to be better in the final stages, where they showed so much quality."
Finally, a look at the playing philosophy and the difference between Europe and the league. "Often in the Champions League you come across teams that you can play against openly. In Italy, there's a lot of tactical thinking, you come across teams that sit back in defence, you have to be good at finding other ways to score."
Finally, the manifesto of his Naples: "The goal, however, is to get the team playing at a high tempo. There's no such thing as standing around the goal post and playing counterattacks. If others are good at it, we haven't lost our essence even with 13 absentees. I try to instill this mentality in the lads, which is what we used to win a Scudetto and a Super Cup."
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)
I read the article and I think Conte's analysis is correct. The team played well, but there were mistakes that shouldn't happen in such an important match. We must learn from these experiences for the future.