As Napoli prepares to face Genoa on the eve of Christmas, manager Antonio Conte addressed the media at the Castel Volturno training center. The Italian tactician discussed various topics, including team selection, player fitness, and the upcoming match.
Conte confirmed that Juan Jesus will replace the unavailable Buongiorno in defense. He expressed confidence in Jesus, stating, “Juan Jesus has been with us from the beginning. He’s a player who has always trained well, shown great availability, and demonstrated strong desire and attachment to Napoli. It’s an obvious substitution; we’re talking about an experienced left-sided center-back with many career matches under his belt. I am very calm because I know he will deliver a great performance.”
The manager also provided positive news regarding Kvaratskhelia’s fitness, saying, “Kvaratskhelia resumed training with us yesterday. Today I saw him more relaxed, and he will travel with us to Genoa. He’s available, which is an important recovery for us.” He added, “Neres has grown a lot since he arrived. He is much more involved with the team now. We need players who are never passive, whether in possession or not.”
When discussing his tactical philosophy, Conte emphasized the importance of team effort in both offensive and defensive phases. He explained, “What has changed from last year? I’m not interested in seeing what went less well in the past. What matters to me is that the offensive phase is done with the whole team, as well as the defensive phase. Maximum collaboration between players; if you don’t concede goals, it’s because everyone is good at protecting.”
Regarding potential January transfers, Conte deflected questions by focusing on the current squad’s achievements. “I’m working with this group of players who have all contributed significantly to our 35 points,” he said. “I have maximum confidence in them. I know I can go into sporting battle with them. There are real men here. I’m happy with them.” He added, “If credible opportunities arise in January and the club decides to change something, we will see. But for now, my focus is entirely on these players.”
Looking ahead to the Genoa fixture, Conte acknowledged the challenge of playing at Marassi. “Playing at ‘Marassi’ is never easy; it’s a typical English stadium with stands close to the pitch,” he noted. “It’s a warm atmosphere, like the Genoa fans. We’ll have to play our game, trying to implement what we’ve prepared this week, with attention to details and a spirit of sacrifice.” He recalled their previous match against Udinese, saying, “In that circumstance, we showed that we can take a punch but remain standing and deliver an even stronger one.”
Conte praised Giovanni Simeone’s growth and discussed Romelu Lukaku’s importance to the team. “The growth of Simeone is evident to everyone,” he remarked. “He has made himself fully available and is always looking to improve.” On Lukaku’s role, he said, “Romelu is always working hard; I hope he feels more serene because he wants to repay all the affection and trust that Napoli has given him.”
Finally, addressing tactical flexibility, Conte stated, “Lukaku is never alone; he is always accompanied by four or five players when we attack. The offensive phase depends on how many players you bring into the area.” He concluded by emphasizing his team’s attacking philosophy: “This is a team that plays offensive football. The difference comes from how many men you attack with and the balance you maintain because preventive phases are also necessary.”
