Napoli coach Conte on Coppa push: Nothing comes easy

The two clubs will meet in the round of 16 tomorrow, with Conte previewing the match today.

Conte takes the floor:

“Before I started, I wanted to send a big hug to Edoardo Bove on behalf of myself and all the boys. We are all with him and we hope to see him do what he does best soon, as soon as possible.”

On the value of the match and whether the Coppa Italia is a goal:

“Our goal is to grow, to build something, to grow you have to play as much as possible. This year in some ways it is punishing for many players because we only have the championship and we have the Coppa Italia, we have two played the first matches ever with Modena, then with Palermo there was the opportunity to give space to players who had had less until then and tomorrow we will have another clear opportunity to test everyone's growth a bit.

“It is important to prepare well. Moving forward in the Coppa Italia means having other opportunities, more space to show that improvements are being made, to also understand it well for the club, for the players, even for me… so far We have been good and we have been lucky not to have any injuries. We have focused a lot on a limited number of players. It is an important moment to make assessments and for the players, and we go deal with it with dedication and desire.”

Yesterday Inter president Beppe Marotta said Napoli are favorites for the Scudetto, what do you think?

“I repeat, the director can say what he wants, he certainly knows him very well and has worked with him, but I think that if Inter did not win the Scudetto at the end of the year, he would not be very happy and would win.” consider the season a good one. I can say this because I know him very well, then everyone has to play his role, maybe even someone from within can push him to say something like this, but I repeat: we are talking about a team that does not have two teams, only two teams and three quarters of cosmic nothing.

“They concentrate a lot on us and may not see who is really bothering them. But I am absolutely convinced that these are words carried on the wind. If they didn't win it, he wouldn't do that.” be very happy and many should ask themselves questions.”

Was there a reference to Atalanta?

“Everyone, every club, starts the year with objectives. Then we can indicate what we want, but ultimately everyone knows internally whether the objectives have been achieved or not. Then I understand that someone tries to pass the buck, but there are facts. ” We have to respond to our club, to the ambition of the club, to the objectives set together, everyone knows the real goal. Everything is fine with me, we know that… at the beginning of the year and De Laurentiis has said that several times. It's a little game that makes you smile, it gives you something to talk about, but then you have to bring out the objective and not the chatter. I don't think director Marotta, if he doesn't win the award, will be calm and relaxed…”

Will the Coppa choices be based on meritocracy, to give space to those who have played less or in view of the double challenge?

“We always look at one game at a time, so the most important one is Thursday. That said, I will make some choices because there are a lot of players in the squad. We had a good start, but that shouldn't happen.” It would only be the credit of the 12-13 who took part, but the credit should be shared among the whole squad, those who came on, those who played little or nothing at all, but kept the intensity and competition high in training, if I say something like this because I think so, when I say it there is collective growth, because I think so.

“We can really evaluate the group, and it is important for me, for the club, also in view of injuries or flu whether we are well rested until the end or whether we have to pay attention to ourselves… it is too important I will give space to those who have shown that they deserve this space, then I hope, but I am sure there will be great reactions, as happened with Palermo. Let's not forget that all matches have to be played , with the starters we won on penalties against Modena in the Series B. Let's not chase hypotheticals, it is inevitable that we will try to move forward with all our strength to give space to those who deserve it but have not found it for many reasons. We all need answers after a third of the championship.”

Is this a test for some ahead of the January transfer window?

“No, absolutely not, it is not a test for anyone. We should not be ruthless, I play with players who deserve this opportunity. I repeat, from Dimaro until today I have seen a remarkable growth in all the players and I have you also told, then you have to compare the facts with the boys. If you tell me that I am improving, that I am growing, and then you never let me play. We have to be credible, I have spoken out about growing up the improvement of the individual to raise the level of the team, so it is not a test for anyone, but an opportunity to say 'I am here'. We are working, by not playing we have a typical week, but at the same time there is a selection only for the Championship and the Italian Cup and we have to know exactly where we need to go…”

Can the Coppa Italia be won?

“It's very easy to talk about winning here. You get up in the morning and talk about winning the Coppa Italia, the Champions League, the championship, let's win, but to win you have to build victories, otherwise you won't get anywhere. basis of victory, you must build the ambition to be there with the others, a realistic desire, but not that of dreamers. Here is the difference, I do not deprive anyone of the dream, but the reality is that there is a construction that lasts moves along and brings joy to the environment sometimes not even compact and there is also another difficulty. We talk about winning like drinking a glass of water, with all the respect I can have, but you must also respect those who work and have a minimum of experience. .to build sustainable things!”