Antonio Conte expressed his appreciation for Napoli’s performance against Bologna, emphasizing the importance of the victory beyond just the points. Following the match, which ended in a 3-0 win for Napoli, Conte noted that the team gained “confidence, self-belief, and the realization that we can achieve anything when united.”
The Partenopei desperately needed this win after a rocky start to the season, having relied on penalties to defeat Modena in the Coppa Italia and suffering a 3-0 loss to Hellas Verona in Serie A. Napoli finally found their stride, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo scoring the first goal thanks to an impressive assist from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Kvaratskhelia then added a goal of his own, followed by David Neres assisting Giovanni Simeone in stoppage time to secure the convincing victory.
“I really liked the attitude of the team against a well-organized Bologna side that qualified for the Champions League last season,” Conte remarked. “We won against a very good team, so that should give us confidence and self-belief.”
Conte highlighted the significance of the win, stating, “This is an important victory aside from the three points, because we hadn’t won at the Maradona for a long time. I asked the crowd to be our 12th or even 13th man, and they became fundamental for us.”
He praised his players for their effort, saying, “The lads put in a performance that went beyond their qualities; they showed heart and courage. This is what our fans want to see.”
The victory marked Napoli’s first Serie A win since April 7, and their first at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since March. Conte acknowledged the importance of keeping a clean sheet, especially after the disappointing second-half performance against Verona.
“I mentioned during the week that perhaps receiving this punch to the face right away made us realize that if we want to ‘forget’ the past, we need to be out there,” he explained. “You can stand in the ring, get punched, give punches, but keep standing.”
Despite expectations that he might punish the players after the loss to Verona, Conte opted to give them a day off, suggesting a shift in approach. “I have great faith in these lads and wanted many of them to remain at Napoli,” he said. “It was a tough week, but one where we managed to unite even more.”
Conte’s focus on teamwork and collective effort was evident as he concluded, “These are my first three points at Napoli, so it’s exciting, and we must carry that sense of joy with us, because these are the sensations that push you forward.”
