Conte ‘realistic’ about Napoli’s Scudetto ambitions despite strong start

Antonio Conte insisted he remains grounded despite Napoli's impressive start to the season which sees them top the Serie A table.

Napoli have taken 29 points from their opening thirteen league games, one point more than Atalanta, Inter, Fiorentina and Lazio in a close battle at the top of the standings.

Conte's side have impressed this season, especially in defence, keeping eight clean sheets, with only Juventus (ten) producing more in Europe's top five leagues.

The 55-year-old has won four Scudetto titles during his managerial career but didn't get carried away when asked about adding another title to his collection.

“We have to be realistic and know that we are only on day 13 and that there are six teams within a few points,” Conte told reporters on Friday.

“It's been a balanced competition so far and in my opinion I don't think it will stay that way until the end.

“The time has come at the end of the first half of the season [the list of contenders] will start to get a little longer. But we are satisfied, it shows that the work we are doing is good, and I am happy.

“Day after day we are laying important foundations and I see continuous growth as a team but also as an individual.”

November dump

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— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) November 27, 2024

Next up for Napoli is a trip to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to take on 11th-placed Torino, who are without a win in their last four Serie A matches.

But Paolo Vanoli's side will be confident of an end to their winless run after their performances against Napoli last season.

They remained unbeaten in their two games against Napoli (W1 D1) last season, after a run of five straight defeats, and were able to remain unbeaten against the Partenopei for at least three consecutive games for the first time since December 2007 and November 2012. Series A (series of five – W3 D2).

“It [Torino] It is a solid group, it has good quality, it is quietly in the middle of the table and has not won for a long time, so there are values,” said Conte.

“I live in Turin, almost every Sunday I have the pleasure of watching the match, and it is an environment I know, nice and warm, strong, attached to history.

“We will have to be very careful. It is a game that you have to approach in the right way, respecting the quality of the opponent and the environment we will find and their history.”