23:50
The press conference is over
Thus ends the Napoli coach’s press conference.
23:49
Conte and the fans
“At the beginning of the year many wanted to leave, we did well not to make any mistakes with some players. Here the expectations are very high. The fear is that there isn’t the right patience. We started running despite everything. I see the happy fans and this gives me strength. Lobotka? An important player and behind him there is Gilmour who will be the next future of Napoli. I would like to thank the fans who came to the airport, something absurd and incredible. I hope that in the next trips those who are residents will also be able to come, there must be balance”.
23:44
“We have great merits”
“Is Gasperini talking about episodes? Everyone has their opinion. The game was balanced, I say that when you direct it your way you get a bit of credit. Let’s recognize our merits. They are still stronger than us, but we have taken a step forward. We are on the right track”.
23:39
Conte in conference: “The goal could have killed us”
Conte in press conference: “We won on a difficult pitch against a great team. I asked the players to be brave and they always were. The goal we conceded could have killed us, we could have done better in certain situations, but we got up, pressed them high and looked them in the eye. They won the Europa League so the ambition is to win the scudetto, they have the potential”.
23:23
Conte: “There are difficulties but let’s not complain”
“We are going fast but we have no intention of taking our foot off the pedal. We have to put hay in the farmhouse for the return to Europe. Then if you look at the rankings and you’re up there, you don’t want to go back down. But it’s not just us, there are other strong teams, we are doing something extraordinary, even in the midst of difficulties but without complaining”.
23:20
Napoli’s improvements
“We are on a journey. Since the beginning of the year, we have also lost important players. We have to continue, I’m very happy to go to training. There are a lot of these guys, they gave me great availability. Our path involves individual improvements becoming team improvements. We can be annoying. This is only the second match of the return, but we are satisfied. We are a courageous team, we must defend ourselves by pressing”.
23:18
Conte again: “Naples, what intensity!”
Conte a Dazn: “The game was set up clearly, we didn’t want to always go and get them. However, we have always been proactive and never low, we didn’t let them play. This was the key compared to the first leg. Lobotka suffered a bit in possession, but these are games that are played at high intensity. We are students who try to improve, Atalanta are masters in the pressure phase, they have been playing with Gasperini for years”.
-23:14
Lukaku and the others
Always Conte: “Lukaku always gives everything, it’s important for us. But they are all important. I don’t want to overlook anyone on the squad. We are righteous and hungry”.
23:13
Conte and the post-Kvara era
“For after Kvara, I leave the decision to the club. If they ask me something, I will say something. Prospect players? If something has to be done, it has to be done right, otherwise we’re left with these guys. Compared to the scudetto, the best players have left. But I go to war with these men”.
23:09
Here is Conte: “We are growing”
Conte on Sky: “This team has grown a lot. Two and a half months ago Atalanta gave us three goals at home. Today was a different match, from all points of view. We also grew in difficulties, in terms of injuries and the market. These are things that could kill a bull. I thank these guys, when I coach I’m happy”.
22:55
A statistic from Conte’s Napoli
Napoli have won eight of their first 11 away games of the season in Serie A for only the third time in their history: 10 in 2017/18, the championship they finished in second place, and nine in 2022/23, their last Scudetto season.
22:37
Soon Conte
The Napoli coach will soon speak on TV after the match against Atalanta.
