Antonio Conte says Napoli will have to quickly adapt to life without the influential Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, ahead of a tough test at high-flying Atalanta.
Kvaratskhelia confirmed his departure from the club in a farewell message posted on social media on Thursday, before his move to Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed on Friday.
The Georgian spent two and a half years at Napoli and played a key role as they won their third ever Scudetto title in the 2022/2023 season, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists.
Despite missing three of Napoli's last five league games due to injury, Kvaratkshelia had registered eight goals for the Partenopei this season (five goals, three assists), helping the team to the top of Serie A.
“I said January was special, it's called the transfer market, so one-two, whoever leaves, whoever comes in…” Conte told a press conference on Friday.
“The dynamics in the locker room, the human dynamics, also create relationships between each other [the players]it is inevitable that such strong shocks can lead to small imbalances.
'We will have to be good at maintaining the unity that was created until January 1 [and] recreate that alchemy with the new players, to also make up for Kvara's absence.
“Head down and kick, whatever happens. Some things we can control, some we can't and we don't waste energy… I have to be focused on the team, we are doing something good and I have to protect it, these guys deserve it .”
After the clash against third-placed Atalanta, who are four points ahead of Napoli, the leaders host Juventus and travel to Roma.
However, Conte was solely focused on the challenge of overcoming Gian Piero Gasperini's side.
Atalanta have won their last two Serie A matches against Napoli (both 3-0). They last achieved three consecutive league successes against them between April 1997 and February 1998.
However, Napoli have won their last five Serie A matches, including the most recent three without conceding a goal.
“Atalanta have won eleven games in a row. They were strong and they stayed strong, and they know that [it] because they won the Europa League and defeated the German champions [Bayer Leverkusen]said Conte.
“When you win you realize that you can compete with anyone. They showed that against Real Madrid, even though they lost the game, but it was wide open.”
“That said, we have to focus on ourselves, not on them. We have grown since the last game against them and we have to continue in the process.”
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