In a candid interview with Radio CRC, Napoli’s Argentine striker Giovanni Simeone shared insights into his experience with the club, his relationship with teammate Romelu Lukaku, and the impact of manager Antonio Conte’s coaching style.
Simeone began by addressing Napoli’s recent form, stating, “I’m not sure if ‘regenerated’ is the right word, but starting well with a highly capable and experienced coach has given us a lot of strength and confidence. We’ve found new players who are giving us a tremendous hand. Starting well has been the key to the moment we’re going through.”
Discussing the challenges of adapting to Conte’s demanding style, Simeone admitted, “Working with Conte? The most important thing about the motto ‘We must work hard’ is getting into the manager’s mentality. You really have to work hard all day to do what he asks. Once you enter his mindset, the body quickly adapts to the work he wants to do. At the beginning, though, it was tough, especially during training camps.”
The striker drew an interesting comparison between Conte and his father, Diego Simeone: “The manager has a mind 100% focused on Napoli. He reminds me a lot of my dad Diego because he has a passion for football and the game in his head. He sees everything, he intuits, and this comes from experience and watching many hours of football.”
Simeone had high praise for his new teammate Romelu Lukaku: “Romelu has really impressed me. As a player, we’ve known him for years, but as a person, he’s an intelligent teammate who always helps others. This makes him a leader as well as a great player.”
Regarding the team’s ambitions, Simeone was cautiously optimistic about their Scudetto chances: “The group has something very important, and that’s teamwork. This is how you can go far, being a united group between those who play little and those who play more. Everyone must be involved, and we are. Where we’ll end up depends on the games we play. Then, who knows?”
