Antonio Conte, Napoli`s head coach, was visibly pleased this evening as his team secured a 2-1 victory over Sporting. Rasmus Hojlund`s brace, with both goals assisted by Kevin De Bruyne, earned Conte`s side three crucial points in a challenging match against a tenacious Portuguese opponent. This win proved vital for Napoli, allowing them to move past their opening game defeat to Manchester City and continue their successful run in the Champions League.
Conte on De Bruyne`s Situation
After the game, in an interview with Sky Sport (quotes provided by Corriere dello Sport), Conte addressed media speculation regarding his disagreements with De Bruyne. These rumors arose after the Belgian expressed frustration about being substituted during the weekend`s loss to Milan. The coach remarked: “Kevin, unlike other new signings, comes from a different background. He spent years at City and played at the very highest level. I have nothing to fault him for; he’s a very good lad and works hard. I understand his desire to play, but substitutions are necessary. I aim for victories, and if I make changes, it’s solely to improve the team`s performance. Naturally, in the press, these decisions are debated based on results, but the main thing is for everyone to give their all for the team.”
Conte on Napoli`s Tactical Adjustments
This victory temporarily moved Napoli to 19th place in the group stage table with three points from their first two games. Conte also discussed Napoli`s tactical options, stating: “We have two paths. Either we continue with a four-midfielder system, which I believe we should, as we have significant room for improvement, or we can play with a 4-3-3 formation, as we did at the end of tonight`s match. Perhaps we will alternate between a more physically robust midfield and a more technical one, where De Bruyne could operate as a mezzala. The important thing is that every player makes sacrifices in both phases of the game.”
Finally, the coach concluded by sharing his thoughts on the defeat to Milan and the current state of his team. “The performance in Milan didn`t displease me at all,” Conte said, “but the two goals conceded were due to situations where we could have performed better. We’ve already discussed how to rectify this. When addressing negative aspects, one must be constructive and work to improve them.” He added: “It’s clear that if you go two goals down against Milan at San Siro, it’s very difficult to come back. But we controlled the game, and in my opinion, this represents a step forward compared to last year. Last season in Milan, we won 2-0, but it was Milan who dictated the play. Even here at the Maradona, we were at risk until the very end. Today, I see a very mature team in terms of game management. However, we must not lose our inherent characteristics – aggression and a sense of apprehension, because a healthy fear makes you track back. We try to push forward, but when we are bypassed, we must immediately recover our defensive positions.”
