The Napoli coach after the draw against Maradona: “There is a lot of talk about European offensive football. If we had played a match like this we would be talking about old football”
The 0-0 is too tight for him and he does nothing to hide it. “We faced a German team, but I must say that they learned the Italian catenaccio well. There is a lot of talk about European offensive football… If we had played a match like this we would be talking about old football made up of counterattacks. However, maximum respect. We were good teachers”: this is how Antonio Conte’s analysis began, after the draw with Eintracht. Certainly, Napoli lacked in terms of scoring. “The conclusions were lacking, if you don’t score you don’t win. Even if you’re very good it ends 0-0. We’re trying to propose something European, where we try to dominate the game and apply pressure. We’ve had sensational opportunities, but I still can’t say anything to the boys for the commitment and spirit they put into it. A cycle of five games is coming to an end and we’re also trying to invent new situations.”
emergency
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A leitmotif of this period is the ability to adapt to various emergency situations. An attitude that Conte particularly appreciated. “We found an alternative in Elmas as a playmaker in place of Lobotka, Lang did well when he came in. We need to move forward and continue to work. Our ambition is to grow and gain experience, we are facing a season with many commitments and we must understand that it is more difficult for the players, for me and for all the members of the staff. We are tackling the problems in the best way, continuing to believe in the work. If we had had a bad performance, with fear, then it was a matter of discussion, but we played the match without scoring a goal.”
absences
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The coach does not agree to include the absence of De Bruyne in the discussion, which probably took away quality in the opposing midfield. “Let’s not talk about players who aren’t here today, otherwise we’d have to add Lukaku too. It’s not fair even towards the boys, who are doing very well. We’re struggling numerically, because we were already a bit stretched in midfield and now without De Bruyne we have to tighten our belts even more. Gilmour also becomes important in these situations, but he has the pubic problem that he already had in the summer. You can be as ambitious as you want in words, but we have to make a journey and this tells us that we are facing a new situation from every point of view. We need to be good at managing the players well in all aspects. The path must be followed, there is little that can be done”, noted the coach.
regret
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At the end of the day, the big regret is not being able to convert dangerous situations. “I honestly think that the boys gave everything, there were important opportunities. If the game breaks the deadlock, it’s a completely different matter. In the second half there was a crescendo with sensational situations with Anguissa, McTominay and Hojlund. If we do them it ends 3-0 and we’re talking about a great match for Napoli. I can’t say anything about the spirit, Maradona can get fired up anyway. Then there will be those who will judge and make decisions”, concluded Conte.
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