Napoli manager Antonio Conte shared his thoughts on the team’s recent draw against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium. The former Juventus coach provided insights into tactical changes, player performances, and overall satisfaction with the result.
Addressing the shift in formation, Conte explained, “The change in system stems from the arrivals of McTominay, Gilmour, and the reintegration of Folorunsho. Previously, we only had two midfielders, but now it’s a strong enough department to utilize. We started working on this immediately, alternating between two systems of play as early as the Cagliari match.”
Conte emphasized that the tactical adjustment wasn’t solely for the Juventus game, stating, “No, with a 3-5-2, I would kill too many players. A coach adapts to the characteristics of his players. There was an intention not to leave the ball in Juventus’ hands. With our available squad, it’s the simplest formation, even for alternatives. A 3-4-2-1 would have been more difficult.”
Regarding the team’s attacking performance, Conte acknowledged room for improvement: “Up front, we can do much better. There were situations to exploit, and we certainly have ample room for improvement. I know the difficulty of drawing at Juventus’ home, a team that distanced us by 18 points last year, and I had asked for continuity.”
When asked about Romelu Lukaku’s form, Conte was candid: “Lukaku still needs to get into the condition that I demand.”
Summing up his feelings about the match, Conte concluded, “I’m moderately satisfied. We did well at the back, but up front, we could have exploited some situations better.”
