Speaking in an interview with Radio CRC, Napoli forward Cyril Ngonge has shared his thoughts on joining the club, working under Antonio Conte, and his experiences in the vibrant city of Naples.
“I felt at home in Naples immediately,” Ngonge revealed. “Joining such an important club has meant a lot for my career. I’m not someone who is bothered by pressure; on the contrary, it motivates me. Positive pressure is always present in professional football, and it has never been a problem for me.”
Speaking about his role under manager Antonio Conte, he explained, “The coach tells me to help in the defensive phase. It’s important that we make the sacrifice to help the team when we don’t have possession, and then, when we have the ball, to be incisive in the final third of the field in one-on-one situations and make a difference. These are the most important instructions the coach gives us.”
Ngonge also touched on his playing style and relationship with teammates: “Every player has their qualities and defects; every player is unique. I don’t think I would change my way of playing. Politano and Neres are strong with their qualities, and I with mine. Lukaku is a player with great personality, and when you see his career, you feel respect for him. As a player and as a person, he has great weight and is a brother to many. For me even more so, because I’ve known him since I was little. It’s important to have a person like him in the locker room.”
Discussing tactical aspects, he shared, “The most important movements we work on in the offensive phase are the plays we practice in training and memorize every week with the coach. We prepare them every day and know them well, so we try to implement them in the game. Movement between us is very important; we train a lot on this.”
Ngonge also expressed his admiration for Naples: “What impressed me about Naples is the love for football. You always feel it, but when you experience it up close, it’s even more extraordinary. The passion of all these people is incredible; you don’t see it in other cities. I went to Maradona’s mural, toured the city a bit: it’s a city that lives, and I like that a lot. I also like going around and being close to the fans. When I’m with family or friends, I walk around the city.”
