Ahead of the match against Venezia, Napoli coach Antonio Conte answered questions from the press
What do you expect to find after the second half in Genoa and your words? How did the team see it?
“Let’s look at the glass half full, let’s think about the first half. It is inevitable that the match must be analyzed in its entirety and we did as always, worked, analyzed the 95 minutes and since I have responsible boys we take that second half as a starting point to improve. The desire is already there, but these ideas make you raise your level.”
Signing to be in the top 4?
“I never like to sign for minimum goals, anyone who knows me knows this. Then each of us knows very well what our goals are, where we start from. But I never sign for a minimum goal, we have to continue doing what we are doing and improve.”
What is your assessment of the first months at the helm of Napoli?
“We hope to close the year 2024 with another joy for the fans, for ourselves, to celebrate New Year’s Eve well. They were 5 very intense months, months lived at full throttle. The environment is beautiful, passionate, training in Naples really gives you a lot, but at the same time it is demanding in many ways. Very happy, however, my goal and that of the boys, I always say, is to have no regrets in any situation or in any game. We must leave the pitch with the feeling of having given everything, without saying we could have done better.”
How is Politano? Looking ahead, is Neres-Kvara coexistence possible?
“Everything is possible, everyone can be part of Napoli’s 11, then we know that there are balanced situations and you have to evaluate what type of match you are going to face. There are more defensive, more offensive teams, you make a lot of evaluations. We are talking about players who can determine, so far we have always seen Matteo with Kvicha from the beginning, in the last two Matteo with David, sooner or later you will also see David with Kvicha. But this doesn’t mean failure for anyone. Yesterday Matteo had this intestinal problem, today he trained and we will evaluate it carefully. There won’t be any problem, I don’t know when you will see the various solutions, but sooner or later you will see them.”
What are the pitfalls of Venice?
“Being New Year’s Eve, in the middle of the Christmas period, still being able to celebrate and I wouldn’t accept that. Everyone’s thinking of an easy victory just because Venezia is second to last, but if we see the home games of Juventus and Inter we should at least be worried. They have a good coach, they have their own organisation, their own concepts and we have studied them as they should be and now we have to implement them with application because for us they are 3 fundamental points to put hay on the farm, we will need these points”.
Is it too early to say that Inter, Atalanta and Napoli are up for the Scudetto?
“The first round hasn’t finished yet, it’s a bit risky, then you can think about many things. With two games left in the first round, there are still more than 63 points up for grabs… I was strong in mathematics. The objective must be to score points and cause trouble, this is the primary objective, we are working hard and we want to continue to grow.”
Is the next objective to increase the minutes of that first half in Genoa?
“The objective is to lengthen, yes, what we must perceive systematically, at all times, what type of match is being played and what type of match is required of us. Sometimes we start with that score, we are prepared on that, but when it changes we have to recognize that something is changing and adapt, but it is part of a process of growth and work. Recognizing the type of match during the match itself needs to be improved so as not to get stuck and to read situations better. The kids are very applied.”
Never go wrong with small-medium sized ones. Is it mental strength?
“Fingers crossed, we don’t want to be superstitious but when you face teams that on paper should be inferior you have to win otherwise you’ve missed something, with the same level instead you can give your best as happened this year too and not gain anything despite being satisfied of the performance. With those of a slightly lower level, it’s all up to you, you have to take it without ifs and buts, without alibis or excuses. We have to go and get the three points in these matches.”
Do you see Lukaku more serene? Have the latest goals loosened him up on the issue of pressure or does he still have to work?
“He is one of the 21 outfield players we have, he is now in top form so we don’t have to wait for who knows what, but it is inevitable that he is Lukaku and the expectations on him are higher than Mister Rossi, the normal 9. He has international depth, his CV leads to important expectations and he must meet them and continue doing what he is doing. He knows it very well, like me, each of us brings expectations, whether we like it or not we have to maintain them because something important has been done in the past and you always have to confirm yourself.”
Does the increase in quality also lead to opportunities on the January transfer market? Can anything come?
“I already answered last time, it’s an issue that I will never address, the club will decide what to do. I only asked the club that I have 21 players, two teams to train and I need to at least have that number of players, so we have a good level even during training. That at least that number remains is the minimum request I can make.”
How did you find Serie A again? For better and for worse.
“The level has risen, compared to the English championship we lacked intensity while today it was also raised a lot by us and then we have tactically which I find significantly better than abroad. There has been an evolution in many aspects, just like coaches and vision of football and you can also see it in Europe. It’s difficult to play against an Italian team, Fiorentina two finals in a row, Atalanta in the EL, Inter in the Champions League final, fifth in the Champions League in terms of ranking, are all signs that tell us that Italy has moved forward and is a more beautiful and difficult championship. It has always been difficult to face an Italian, but today we have grown a lot and our brand has always been important in the world.”
