Napoli manager Antonio Conte spoke to DAZN following his team’s hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against Parma. The match, which saw Romelu Lukaku and Zambo Anguissa score for Napoli, was a challenging affair, particularly after Parma took the lead through a Bonny penalty.
Conte praised his team’s heart and determination, especially after Parma’s goalkeeper was sent off, forcing outfield player Delprato to don the gloves. “When Romelu scored, they went on the field to say to return to midfield because there were still ten minutes to win,” Conte said. “It was a performance of heart against an excellent team with good players who press well. We could have done much better. We’ll take these three points knowing there’s work to be done.”
The Italian coach then expressed his frustration with the current transfer market system, stating, “After this absurdity of the open transfer market, with players you train who will leave and those you want but don’t know in what condition they’ll arrive, I hope this rule will be changed.” He highlighted the challenges this posed for team selection, noting, “Today I had no midfielders on the bench to replace Anguissa and Lobotka. I had to say a prayer hoping nothing would happen. I hope this changes in the future, given that everyone is focused on changing competitions. For me, it’s an absurd thing.”
Discussing goal-scoring responsibilities, Conte emphasized the need for contributions from all players, not just strikers. He reminisced about his playing days, saying, “At Juventus, we had Del Piero who would put it hard on my head, and I just had to push it in. That’s why we try to involve as many people as possible in our game.”
Regarding the transfer market, Conte expressed satisfaction with the club’s efforts despite the challenges: “Strong players have arrived from a market that was difficult and at times blocked. They came to fill the slots, and I’m happy with the work done by the club.” However, he added a notable comment about star striker Victor Osimhen, stating, “Of course, if Osimhen had been sold, we would have completed the situation better.”
This final remark hints at the ongoing speculation surrounding Osimhen’s future and suggests that his potential departure could have allowed for further reinforcements to the squad.
