Antonio Conte concedes that securing consecutive Serie A titles with Napoli will be an exceptionally challenging feat. However, he maintains that he and his squad will adopt a discreet approach, allowing their performance on the field to speak for itself as they gear up to defend their Scudetto.
Conte`s Outlook for Napoli`s 2025-26 Season
Napoli is set to kick off their 2025-26 season this Saturday evening with an away game against newly-promoted Sassuolo. This marks their first official match since triumphantly clinching the Scudetto on the concluding day of their 2024-25 campaign.
Conte now faces the ambitious task of becoming Napoli`s first-ever head coach to secure multiple league titles. He also aims to be the first manager to win successive Serie A championships since Massimiliano Allegri achieved this with Juventus in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
“The prospect of being the first coach to win two league titles with Napoli underscores the immense challenge, as it`s an unprecedented achievement here,” Conte explained in an interview with SportMediaset. “We must remain composed; it`s an incredibly tough objective. We`ll observe how the season unfolds. We`re quite serene, preferring to maintain a low profile and let others speculate. Our focus is on delivering concrete results.”
When queried about Napoli`s status as title favourites for the 2025-26 season, Conte responded, “I believe such questions are best answered by experts, who offer their predictions on our team`s readiness. While everyone boasts of effective pre-season training, we too have worked diligently, and now it`s time to demonstrate that on the field. The identity of our opponent is secondary; what truly matters is that others perceive Napoli as a formidable contender for the Scudetto.”
Conte`s Assessment of De Bruyne and Lucca
Conte also shared his thoughts on two of Napoli`s recent acquisitions.
The Partenopei`s head coach offered effusive praise for Kevin De Bruyne, yet suggested that Lorenzo Lucca still possesses considerable potential for development.
When asked about De Bruyne`s immediate impact, Conte remarked, “He swiftly grasped the distinction between Manchester City and Napoli. He`s exhibited great humility, attentiveness, and intelligence, seamlessly integrating into our setup.”
Regarding Lucca, Conte elaborated, “Our decision to sign him stems from our belief in his ability to contribute to the squad. He was brought in to develop under Lukaku`s guidance, and we anticipate how quickly he will mature and the extent of his future contributions.”