Antonio Conte sees victory at the Olimpico as a message to Napoli itself

Gilabola.com – Napoli achieved a 1-0 victory over AS Roma through a goal from David Neres, and Antonio Conte considered the result to be an important message for his squad in the midst of the Scudetto competition.

He explained why he would continue to take time off in the future, and highlighted how the injury crisis had actually forced the team to find a new form of play.

Conte said that the victory in Rome was an internal signal that Napoli was still able to compete even though they were in a difficult period. He explained that taking time off was nothing new for him, as he did something similar when coaching in England.

According to Conte, the club agreed to this decision so that he and his staff could get breathing space. He believes that preparing for matches every three days is a lot of pressure for coaches and families.

Conte emphasized that he will continue to do this in the future because it has proven to help him regulate his work rhythm. He said four months of non-stop schedules made a short break a logical decision.

The coach then discussed the tactical changes that had to be made due to the lack of midfielders. He returned to using the 3-4-2-1 scheme like when he first arrived at Napoli.

Only two main midfielders are available, namely Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay. This makes choices very limited and forces him to maintain the system.

Conte believes that McTominay should not be sacrificed, because according to him the player is suitable as a box-to-box midfielder. He explained that Eljif Elmas is not a pure central midfielder, while Vergara from the academy must be ready if needed.

According to Conte, the existing players show enthusiasm and strong determination every day. He said this character was what brought Napoli to win the Scudetto last season.

Victory over Roma and Message to the Team

Neres’ single goal came from a quick counter-attack that took advantage of a gap in Roma’s defense. It was Neres’ third goal in two Serie A matches.

Conte praised the team’s courage in appearing aggressive from the start of the match at the Olimpico. He said Roma was in a positive trend so victory did not come easily.

According to him, the players showed character from the first minute. He said that Napoli were facing difficult times with many injured players, and this situation would not end quickly.

However, Conte considered the team’s response to be very satisfying. He said the players maintained discipline in the new formation and remained united even though the player choices were limited.

Roma had control of the ball, but only created one golden opportunity in the final minute which was thwarted by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Conte stated that the success in reducing the opponent’s chances showed the hard work of all lines.

President Aurelio De Laurentiis celebrated the victory with a message that said the team was led by “a true commander.” Conte responded with a laugh when asked to comment.

He said that consecutive wins over Atalanta, Qarabag and Roma were proof that Napoli could still overcome difficult situations. He said the players were “at war” and determined to stay in the title race.

The victory put Napoli at the top of the standings with AC Milan, one point ahead of Roma and Inter. Meanwhile, Bologna has the potential to follow if they win the next match.