After enduring a disappointing defeat in the Coppa Italia and facing another loss against Lazio in the league, Napoli head coach Antonio Conte shared his thoughts on the team’s performance. This recent match marked Napoli’s third defeat in the league, leaving them struggling to keep pace with Atalanta, who currently leads the Serie A standings.
In his post-match interview, Conte expressed optimism despite the setbacks, stating, “I think today’s match clearly showed that the path we are working on is the right one. Our idea is to aggressively challenge our opponents to prevent them from dictating the game, and instead, we want to take control ourselves.” He acknowledged that while the team often lacked precision in their final passes, they displayed great effort and commitment against a formidable Lazio side.
Conte praised Lazio’s capabilities, remarking, “Lazio is not a fleeting team; they are an excellent squad.” He emphasized that he was not disappointed with his team’s performance, affirming that “the path is correct and it is inevitable that there will be stumbles, and probably more will come.” He expressed satisfaction in seeing a team that is eager to attack and never gives up, while also noting the need for improved quality in their play.
Further discussing his team’s strategy, Conte said, “Counterattacks are part of the game; if you want to apply pressure, you must be prepared for situations where you might be countered. This is part of our growth process. I prefer to see an active team rather than one that sits back and potentially concedes goals by defending low.” He added, “The process is yielding good results; there is much work ahead but we have only been at this for five months.”
Conte concluded with a strong emphasis on the need for quality in crucial moments: “We play by pressing our opponents and I repeat, we need more quality in the final third because quality players must make a difference.”
