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Napoli coach Antonio Conte spoke at a press conference on the eve of the Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Antonio Conte, coach of Napoli, addressed the media ahead of the crucial home game in the Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Neapolitans must redeem themselves from the embarrassment two weeks ago in Holland against PSV Eindhoven where Di Lorenzo and his teammates conceded 6 goals.

Appointment is set for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, at 6:45 PM at the Maradona stadium in Napoli.

The blues are currently in 23rd place in the standings with three points after three matches, consisting of one win and two losses.

Antonio Conte’s celebration after Spinazzola’s goal (Photo by SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Napoli, Conte’s Words

Out of the 5 forwards available…

“Who do you consider forwards, Lang and Neres are wingers in a 4-3-3 system. Politano? He’s a winger just like the others. In modern football, there is not only one phase, there are two phases especially for that position. You attack with all 11 and defend with all 11. Among Politano, Neres, Lang, Spinazzola, and Elmas, there are no differences, then the characteristics may vary”

The question is about the fact that you aimed to score more goals but you have 2 less. Only 5 goals from the forwards. Are you expecting more?

“Someone had to score, we are at the top of the table, before these two matches, there was talk of lack of solidity, now we come from two clean sheets and we talk about the attack. You always look for the glass half empty in everything, we have faced absurd difficulties since the beginning of the season and we continue to face them, and I look at the standings and Napoli is there.

We only hear criticisms, there was an absurd pumping of expectations, we had to kill it here and there, whoever arrived had to change the team’s perspective, players like Lukaku were missing, crucial, De Bruyne got injured, Rrahmani returned at the last moment, Lobotka and others got injured, we’ve dealt with everything and then you see us on top and you wonder how did they do it? Do you ask yourselves these questions? I said we need more goals, but we need to win, but how many more goals has Anguissa scored? Anguissa has three more goals compared to last year. Let’s try to be serious!”.

Is it a do-or-die match? What Napoli will we see tomorrow?

“We found an important alternative in a single match, against Inter, when Hojlund was out, playing Neres up front to exploit his speed and I think it worked. Even against Como, we tried to pair Neres with the striker and then went back to the 4-3-3. The idea doesn’t change. Tomorrow there is a match where we can rectify the Champions League standings, but it’s a strong opponent, like everyone, we know what we are doing in difficulties and I feel obligated to defend this team.

When I talk about the Neapolitan fans not being fooled, I am referring to the rumors deliberately spread to create absurd expectations towards the team or to criticize it. The Neapolitan people must always stand united with the team, shut your ears, the Neapolitan fan is a dreamer and from the outside, they know that it takes little to pump up and criticize to create depression.

Stay united, listen to the players and the coach, they are the only ones who truly care about the team, from the outside it’s all about interests. Let’s stick together, the season will be tough and complex, I’ve been telling you this from the beginning. Honor to the boys who, despite all the difficulties, I see the standings and I still see us there and tomorrow if we win we go to 6 points… if we don’t succeed, the others will have been better, amen, but they will always find a strong group. The environment must support us, don’t follow those who create problems, in excess or in defect. Napoli being there annoys others, Napoli fighting for the top positions annoys others, I understand it, the others have to get into that mindset. Despite the difficulties, we are there and that’s scary”.

Napoli-Eintracht is also Italy-Germany, as a national coach, you remember and still struggle to sleep. Some say that Serie A is also behind the Bundesliga.

“I don’t think Serie A is behind the Bundesliga, I believe the level is equal. At this moment, the league out of reach is the Premier League due to economic power and infrastructure, but Germany… we envy a league with fewer matches and it’s an advantage, in the winter period they rest and then resume, we don’t have that. Then there’s Bayern, traveling at stratospheric levels with strong players and organization, it’s in a league of its own, then other high-level teams, Bayer Leverkusen two years ago and the Europa League final, other teams like Eintracht, Stuttgart, Borussia, but these are teams of our level and the league is of equal standing”.

How are Gilmour, Spinazzola, and how is Lobotka feeling?

“Lobotka played the final part against Como, he was returning, giving him more minutes could have been a serious risk, talking to him we opted for this option. Rrahmani was also in the game against Lecce, I asked him if he wanted to play a part of the match and we preferred to avoid it, then he played the next one. Lobotka should be there… he trained, this is the process we have. In the last match, Elmas had a truly incredible impact, he’s a player… I’m happy because he broadens the starting lineup and with such a long season, it’s important and with his performances, but also Gutierrez, it shows that we are expanding the squad and that’s the positive news I take from Como.

Gilmour? Yesterday he was doing a recovery session, it’s not fatigue but inflammation problems in the groin area and the correct evaluations will be made. If they’re okay, great, otherwise, we’ll find solutions, we’re not here to cry”.

Can Elmas also be a new De Bruyne in your lineup?

“He has different characteristics, he can play all three midfield roles and on the wings, on the right and left. There’s nothing to invent, let it be. You complained about the 4 midfielders, now I have to put Elmas there (laughs, ed), come on…”.