The draw in Copenhagen weighs as much as a defeat, and Antonio Conte makes no secret of it. After the 1-1 draw against the Danes, who were down to ten men from the 35th minute, the Napoli coach opted for maximum frankness, questioning the team's competitiveness.
"Despite the absences and fatigue, a match like this must be won. Perhaps our level isn't up to this competition, given that we've only earned eight points. We need to make a huge mea culpa," says Conte, visibly shaken, without seeking mitigating circumstances. "There's little to talk about, we just need to be very angry with ourselves. Perhaps we didn't grasp the importance of what was at stake."
A point that means little, especially in view of the final and decisive match against Chelsea, which will decide the Azzurri's European future. The feeling is that of a wasted opportunity, as the coach himself bitterly emphasizes. "There must be disappointment because it's a match that was in the best possible conditions to win and take a step forward to play in the playoffs. We could have a thousand extenuating circumstances, but today they don't count because we should have won."
Conte then broadens his focus to their European performance away from Maradona, a theme that's starting to become a structural one. "For the fourth consecutive time, we've shown that we struggle in the Champions League away from home, despite being in complete control of the game. This is a draw that hurts me, and it must hurt the players too," he insists, calling for a collective awareness.
The injury crisis remains on the table, but without turning it into an excuse for everything. "We're trying to do our best with the players we have available. We have to work hard and offer the best version of ourselves. Today we could have done much better," says the coach, who is already looking ahead to the league match against Juventus, his Juventus. "For Juventus, we'll count our numbers and prepare for the match," he concludes, implying that anger and pride will have to be Napoli's first responses.
Conte applauds Napoli: "A courageous victory, but we did everything ourselves."
A tough, hard-fought victory, earned through character rather than skill. Antonio Conte savors Napoli's victory at Marassi, but doesn't soften his analysis in front of the cameras. "I think it's a victory of courage, but we did everything ourselves. Genoa's goals were two of our own mistakes, and it wasn't easy to bounce back, but we did it," he says immediately after the match, emphasizing how the match was complicated primarily by internal responsibilities. The Italian coach, however, highlights 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 vibrant and determined. Conte credits the collective response at a delicate moment, also marked by the absence of key players. "I wanted a response after Di Lorenzo's injury, and it came strongly, from everyone. I'm happy; we deserved to win."
Napoli heads to Genoa, Conte reunites with Rrahmani at Marassi for the Champions League race.
Win again to avoid slowing down 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 slump 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 lineup. It remains to be seen whether he will be deployed in the center or as the right-back in a three-man lineup, a solution that would open up Buongiorno's central role ahead of Meret and Juan Jesus on the left-center position. This will be a challenging return for 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 injury. The midfield is short, and the available players are being called upon to work overtime. Lobotka…
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 rather on the transfer market and the delicate moment the team is experiencing. "I see that other teams are preparing significantly for the transfer market. But they've actually blocked ours: I think that's fantastic." The coach uses 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 the best." These words sound like a public denunciation, uttered at a time when the team is struggling with a short squad and an injury crisis. Conte pauses for a moment on this very point, almost as if he wanted to close the discussion before going any further: «Today I am…
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Comments (1)
The draw against the Danes was a disappointment for the team, indeed, a wasted opportunity. Conte is right, we must do better if we want to advance in the Champions League. Injuries cannot be an excuse.