Antonio Conte lauded Napoli’s “extraordinary” achievement of climbing to second place by defeating Milan, especially given their significant injury woes. He emphasized the team’s desire to “defend the Scudetto to the end,” even while acknowledging the need for realism.
The crucial match for second place, aimed at maintaining pressure on league leaders Inter, began unfavorably for Napoli. A sudden stomach bug sidelined Rasmus Hojlund overnight. With key players like Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Amir Rrahmani already injured, Conte was forced to hand January arrival Giovane his debut start as a makeshift striker.
The decisive goal came from a substitute, Matteo Politano, who capitalized on a weak Koni De Winter clearance to volley home in the 79th minute.
Conte Expresses Gratitude to Injury-Hit Napoli Squad
Speaking to DAZN Italia, Conte expressed immense enthusiasm and confidence following the win. He underscored that Napoli’s current second-place standing is a testament to the players who stepped up amidst numerous injuries throughout the season. “Today Hojlund was out, but we’ve also been missing Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Neres, and Vergara for some time – five almost regular starters,” Conte stated. “It’s truly extraordinary that the team has maintained its position despite these setbacks. Any other squad might have crumbled and lost their fighting spirit.” He highlighted the contributions of players like Elmas, Mazzocchi, and Beukema, who became crucial figures during the crisis. Conte concluded that the true “extraordinary” feat was the team’s resilience, not just the evening’s performance, adding that regaining fit players would naturally provide more tactical options and allow for better squad rotation.
Earlier on match day, news emerged that Hojlund was not only unfit to start but also unavailable from the bench. “This morning, the doctor delivered the ‘marvellous’ news that Hojlund had a fever and was vomiting, forcing me to alter my plans,” Conte recounted, praising Giovane’s strong performance despite the late change. “In this moment of joy, holding second place, I want to wholeheartedly thank those players who rose to the occasion during what could have been a disastrous sporting period. They responded magnificently. We’re now seeing players return, with Rrahmani and Giovanni nearing full fitness. We hope Neres and Vergara can also recover before the season concludes.”
Politano’s bench role was partly due to his involvement in Italy’s unsuccessful World Cup play-off qualifiers, where he started against Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Conte revealed, “I joked with Politano today that I foresaw him coming on to make a difference when Milan’s energy waned, particularly in an area where they would press us harder.” He expressed great satisfaction for Matteo, who netted his second goal of the campaign, also acknowledging Alisson Santos’s significant impact as another substitute.
The victory propels Napoli past Milan into second place, narrowing the gap to seven points behind Inter, who had decisively beaten Roma 5-2 the previous night. Conte stressed the importance of continuing this momentum: “With seven rounds remaining, we’ve taken a crucial step towards our objective, which is securing a Champions League spot.” He questioned why Napoli, having won the Supercoppa, should face higher expectations than Milan or Juventus, who also target Champions League qualification. “We must now strive to maintain and defend this position,” Conte affirmed. “While Inter rightfully leads the table, our focus remains on our own performance.”
Higher expectations often surround Napoli given their status as reigning Italian champions, having secured two of the last three Serie A titles, often portrayed by their coaches as sporting miracles. Addressing the prospect of a second consecutive Scudetto, Conte adopted a pragmatic stance: “We must be realistic. Achieving this would require us to be flawless while Inter falters multiple times. Given Inter’s performance to date, that seems unlikely. They are a formidable squad, deserving of their current standing, and we must simply maintain our intensity.” He added, “We intend to challenge for the Scudetto until the very end, a pursuit we couldn’t sustain for many months. Now, we’ve reclaimed control of our narrative and destiny, and we’ll persist without making grand declarations.” Conte reiterated, “The Champions League qualification is not yet guaranteed; it remains a fundamental objective due to its significant financial advantages.”