In the name of Diego. Because today Conte and Napoli want to win for D10S, on the sad day of his death anniversary. “We know who Diego is for Napoli and who Diego is for this city. We want to win the three points so we can dedicate it to him.” Yes, because no one like him has ever existed. And Antonio knows this. Just as he knows that tonight’s Champions League game will not be a walk in the park. Because the Cinderella of the past no longer exists in Europe. The Italian coach knew the danger that night and explained that «in a game like this you need people wearing helmets to be ready to fight». The Nero syndrome has passed: he has stopped lighting fires in the tent occupied by his team and the victory against Atalanta returns a seemingly calmer coach.
«Qarabag are the top of the Champions League, they won on the field of Benfica, they drew with Chelsea, almost won in the 90th minute and this is a great combination of many foreign players: we know very well that tonight we need the same energy that we gave on the field on Saturday». In the castle of Castel Volturno not a single leaf moved that he couldn’t control it. There is not a puff of smoke rising in the blue camp and if Conte decides, after Bologna, to wash his dirty laundry in public, it will be because his strategy was right. There might still be some skeletons in the cupboard, but for now it’s forbidden to look inside. And in any case, if it were not for the lightning and thunder in the afternoon on Domitian’s coast, one would say that the climate had returned to calm.
RESPONSIBLE
There is no indication that Conte is already thinking about a direct showdown with Roma. Because tonight is a kind of final: three points are very important to move up the group standings, reaching 7th place in Azerbaijan and therefore being able to qualify for the playoffs. There are absolute emergencies that usually occur, which, however, makes it very stable. «But let’s avoid Lukaku’s rush: he will not return to the Olimpico yet. We still need time.” Stop complaining about those who are absent. It’s as if he’s used to it by now. «I can’t do anything about it. For every coach there are things you can control and other things like injuries that you can’t. We have to find solutions and provide the best solution to manage this moment as well. As we have been doing since the start of the year.” This was a conference where Conte never changed his tune. His eyebrows were always neatly arranged, also because he didn’t seem to want to fall into a trap. Which, by the way, does not exist.
“It happened against Atalanta significant energy expenditure, we played an intense match. We brought positivity, the three points gave us energy. We are used to considering all matches important. We are facing this match with a high level of morale and positivity.” The influx of new players is progressing rapidly: «Of course, the answer they gave me with Atalanta was of course good but I have to look to today, that is the past. I want confirmation with Qarabag.” He reiterates a fairly clear concept, namely that «the turning point in the three-man defense was the result of an emergency and has the possibility of having an alternative on the bench. And with Atalanta, there is Elmas. Rather than talking about a three-man defense, I’ll talk about a two-man midfield. We have to continue and take advantage of the needs.” We stick to the good evidence of the summer signings, for the first time almost all of them have been used from the start. «Five new players played against Atalanta compared to last year, six with Elmas. All the newcomers were quite involved, they have to be better. Of course they have to improve, also because there are not many players available. We have to take advantage of situations like this to improve.” The path that Conte envisions for them is different, namely a gradual entry. The players from the bench are ready to help the “big players”. But there is no need to wait: the season is running fast and the “reserves” should mature quickly. “I’m happy for Noa. We know Neres because he also made an important contribution to the championship.”
