Napoli’s exit from the Coppa Italia has sparked significant discussion, particularly regarding coach Antonio Conte’s decision to implement a complete turnover of players in their match against Lazio. The Partenopei faced a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico, with Tijjani Noslin scoring a hat trick for the home side. Despite this disappointing result, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis publicly supported Conte’s strategy.
In the aftermath of the match, De Laurentiis emphasized his full backing of Conte’s decision to rotate the squad, stating, “He did very well to let all the other eleven players play.” He described the match as an excellent training opportunity, referring to it as “a super training session with Lazio” and characterized it as “a lesson in sports life for the team.”
The president acknowledged that the extensive changes made it difficult for Napoli to perform optimally, admitting, “We knew that changing so much would not be easy. Of course, if we had changed fewer players, there would have been more balance.” However, he maintained that experimentation was necessary and beneficial: “We can afford to experiment as Conte did against Lazio.”
Conte himself addressed his lineup choices after the game, expressing disappointment over the elimination but reinforcing the rationale behind his decisions. He remarked, “We exited a competition and this should bring us disappointment and anger. We knew that making this choice could carry risks, but many players had never had the chance to play an official match.” He highlighted the importance of assessing players who consistently show commitment during training: “It was right to see and evaluate them.”
Conte further explained that giving opportunities to less frequently used players helps maintain team intensity and dedication: “If you never give them a chance, it is clear that you lose intensity and dedication in the group.” He acknowledged that while they faced a setback in this cup match, it was part of a broader strategy for team development.
