Journalist
January 12, 2025 (changed at 11.31pm) – MILANO
Napoli confirms itself at the top of the table, but the success against Verona was predictable and it goes without saying that the spotlight after the match is still taken by the Kvaratskhelia case, opened on the eve of Antonio Conte who spoke about the Georgian’s transfer request . The coach returned after Maradona’s 2-0. “I’m not disappointed by Kvaratskhelia, as I read somewhere, or by the club – he clarified into Dazn’s microphone -. I spoke of my disappointment, because in six months I haven’t been able to make an impact so that something changes. Maybe I’m a little ‘presumptuous, I thought I could do it in a different way, but instead I realized that we are back to square one. I think that a coach of a certain level helps the club to make decisions and when unfortunately I realize that I am not incisive, as I wasn’t in this case in which we went back to the beginning, that’s my disappointment, without taking anything away from Kvicha who is a very good guy: everyone must decide their own destiny just as the club must make its decisions It’s a shame, we’re talking about an important and strong player but we have to understand the reality of the facts.” But it’s over when it’s over, Conte makes it clear: “Today he is a Napoli player and let’s not forget him, there are steps to take if someone wants to buy him: nothing is taken for granted. But I like to underline the maturity of this group: the market is going crazy, two players have left and there are rumors about others, but they have kept their concentration and desire to win and continue this path high.”
the soul of Naples
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“Since we left in the summer there has certainly been a change, also because I have always tried to find the most suitable outfit for this team”, says Conte of the path taken to get here: “Until shortly before the end of the transfer window we were still without three players taken in the last week, initially based on a 3-4-2-1 which was the most suitable outfit for that team, then before arriving at this 4-3-3 we made a 4-2-2 -2 with the wingers coming into the pitch and McTominay who went up next to Lukaku. We have arrived at this which in my opinion is the optimal solution, we are working hard on it and we are growing a lot, I see how the boys train and how they are increasingly successful: this is a source of satisfaction for me. because you have to see the work on the field too, and for the kids, because we are growing and so there is more confidence and self-esteem.” Conte continues: “The thing that makes me happiest is seeing that the whole squad is involved, and therefore even with important defections such as that of Lobotka, well replaced by Gilmour, or Buongiorno, in whose place Juan Jesus is proving to be reliable, and I’m happy for Spinazzola who is now in after a difficult start: it’s important to have answers from those who demonstrate that they are present even after having played less.”
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Lukaku speaks
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“We are growing a lot as a team”, commented Romelu Lukaku at the end of the match on Dazn’s microphone. “We work a lot on the tactical aspect in possession and non-possession phases, as a group we also do many things off the pitch, we are involved at team level and we are growing a lot. Kvaratskhelia? We know that the month of January is always the month of rumors of market but we are always focused on the matches and training so it motivates the players.” The question about the scudetto falls to Anguissa: “We don’t want to think about this, we play match after match, we always want to win and in the end we will make the calculations”.
