Antonio Conte hit a determined tone when he encouraged Napoli to continue to believe in their Serie A Titelpush despite recent setbacks.
Inter holds the benefit if the season enters its last piece, and three points are clearly at the top of the table with nine games to play.
Napoli has only won one of their last seven league outings and see them losing their place on the Summit Serie, with AC Milan then at home.
The OPTA -SUPERCOMPUTER now assesses their chances of winning the Scudetto at 13.2%, with Inter the favorites at 84.5%.
“We would be angry not to believe at this stage – nine games crossed, three points from the top. With all our strengths and defects, we are still there, in a position that no one had expected,” Conte told reporters on Saturday.
“It is our right to believe, after we have given everything we have and have always left the field with our shirts soaked in sweat.
“Only one team can win the Scudetto, but the Champions League places are also in the balance. We always have to look ahead and are only focused on first place.”
Napoli has also had a recent breakdown, in which various players are injured during the international break.
“Andre-Frank Anguisissa had an adductor problem with Cameroon; he had two training sessions with us and we follow the situation carefully,” said Conte.
“Noah Okafor [Switzerland] Also had a problem with his adductor and was out for two days. He is a player we need to get back in shape, but he is struggling with it. “
Conte confirmed that the Brazilian winger David Neres is available against Milan after repairing a hamstring injury, but the Italian Leonardo Spinazzola is with a knock.
“Neres has completely recovered, he has made great progress, and he will certainly play – perhaps not from the start, but he will certainly be,” Conte added.
Since the beginning of February, Napoli Winless has been in six of their seven Series A competitions (D5 L1) – more than in their first 22 games in the current top season (D2 L3).
In addition, with only eight points earned since the start of MatchDay 23, the Partenopei would be 13th in the table during this period.
“I think we have earned better in recent weeks than suggesting our results,” Conte noted. “Unconsciously, results influence the mentality of the players, and that is a mistake.
“It's a growth process, we have to recognize those moments that we get wrong and work on it.”
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