Antonio Conte has encouraged his Napoli players to enjoy the Serie A-title race prior to their top-of-the-table collision with leaders Inter on Saturday.
Napoli is second in the rankings and only one point behind the Simone Inzaghi side in their search to retain the Scudetto that they won in the 2022-23 campaign.
But the Conte team has recently had difficulty winning their last four league games (D3 L1), with the Italian head coach to guarantee a return to winning ways.
Indeed, a team managed by Conte in the Serie A has never gone five games without a victory. After their Shock Defeat against Como Last Time -Out, Napoli could also lose two games in a row for the first time since December 2023.
Napoli wins the Scudetto in 24.2% of the data-conducted simulations of OPTA compared to Inter's 68%, while Atalanta gets a 7.1% chance to end up on the Summit Serie.
After their recent decline, questions were asked about Napoli's title references, but Conte confirmed his conviction that his players have what is needed to win the Scudetto.
“After the rankings I expected a Napoli that would start to take shape after seven months,” Conte, who took the lead at the start of the season, told reporters.
“Finding ourselves in this position should we proudly fulfill us, but it should not put pressure on us.
“As I told the boys, sometimes busy is positive, other times negative. That is why I keep telling the players to enjoy this moment. We have earned this position in the rankings through our hard work …
“In general, the competition influences the rankings because there are three points available and there are many teams in the area.”
Napoli has only won one of their last 11 games against Inter in Serie A (D4 L6). In that period, since the beginning of 2020, they did not achieve any other team fewer victories and lost so often (six).
But Saturday's collision in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona promises to be an entertaining affair, given the records of both teams in the Serie A this campaign.
Napoli and Inter have scored the most goals of high sales in the Serie A this term (both six), but Conte will be without midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguisissa.
Asked if Billy Gilmour or Philip Billing Anguisissa would replace, Conte said: “Good question, I have worn it with me all week.
“I still have 24 hours to decide, but it is a technical question that I appreciate because it is very specific. Both options can be correct.
“We will try to make the best choice by evaluating the players and always looking for a solution for injuries that are part of the trip.
“Some players recover more easily, while others struggle more. But we have to find a solution. We have worked on it and you will see it tomorrow.”
Conte also confirmed that Mathias Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola from the left baking were both suitable for viewing inter.
“We found them. Spinazzola played the entire game against Como and we managed his workload during the week,” the Italian added.
“Mathias had a more serious problem. It was a recurring calf injury. He works in top condition and both are available.
“We will see which choice is most suitable.”
Comments