Napoli coach Antonio Conte emphasized the need for patience as the club integrates its new signings, including star midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay, alongside existing talent. His comments came after Napoli`s commanding 2-0 victory over Sassuolo in their opening competitive fixture of the season.
Despite this being their first official match as reigning Italian Champions, Conte showed no hesitation in introducing new faces at the Mapei Stadium. Both De Bruyne and Lorenzo Lucca started, with Lucca stepping in due to a serious thigh injury to Romelu Lukaku.
The new-look side quickly dispatched Sassuolo, securing a comfortable 2-0 win thanks to goals from McTominay and De Bruyne.
Conte`s Optimistic Outlook on Napoli`s Start
“There`s always room for improvement,” Conte shared with DAZN Italia. “We began with the correct mindset this evening. My initial selections still lean on the strengths identified last season, but I plan to gradually introduce our new players.”
He continued, “I`m actively working to find the ideal setup that allows our three core midfielders from last season to seamlessly integrate with Kevin. While we`ve had limited time, I`m already observing promising signs.”
“We could certainly accelerate our play and be more direct in our attacking build-up, as we sometimes halted promising situations. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the team`s spirit,” Conte added.
McTominay`s tactical adaptability and his knack for scoring from midfield, traits evident throughout his debut Serie A season, were again on display.
Conte elaborated on maximizing player strengths: “We`re focused on utilizing each player`s unique attributes. Scott is a relentless competitor who can make devastating late runs into the box and possesses a powerful long-range shot. His opening goal was a move we had practiced in training, with Politano`s actions and Lucca`s movement crucial in creating the space.”
Regarding De Bruyne, Conte noted, “De Bruyne has different qualities compared to our other midfielders; he prefers to distribute the ball and less frequently makes runs into the box. Our aim is to ensure all areas of the pitch are effectively covered.”
Ahead of the match, Napoli director Lele Oriali had named Inter as Scudetto favorites, a sentiment he echoed from the previous season.
Conte responded to this, stating, “This campaign promises to be very challenging and engaging, with seven or eight teams vying for either the Scudetto or Champions League qualification.”
He concluded, “We are in the process of finalizing our squad structure. Unlike last year, we are now competing in Europe, and bringing in new players isn`t straightforward. It demands patience to achieve our maximum potential. It will be tough, especially with many talented coaches returning to well-assembled teams.”
