The time has come. The past, for Conte, does not exist. Not even the future. There’s only this game, there are opponents, there is Napoli who must return to their Napoli. It’s all on Antonio Conte’s shoulders: his dissatisfaction in November saw the Azzurri face Atalanta almost with saliva down their throats. And with Conte’s words looming over everything and everyone: “I will not accompany the dead man.”
Well, now we need to remember it again to Totò and «47 talking dead» but it’s nothing to laugh at considering the tense days the Azzurri endured. Even the silence before shooting felt strange: like the days off taken immediately after a streak in Bologna. Therefore, this is the real moment: at 20.45 the match against Atalanta of the new coach Palladino. In some ways, it would be better to face the insecure Juric again. But that’s all: don’t even remember that we have to face another revolution related to the absence (also) of Anguissa. A 4-3-3 formation is the logical solution, but since we still have to deal with Conte’s DNA, here it is coach ready to launch new 3-4-2-1 that brought Elmas to the bench and Jesus back to the starting lineup. And with McTominay’s new move onto the pitch. In the hope he doesn’t lose all his brilliance in Glasgow’s overhead kick.
CHOICE
It’s not sold out, but besides, it’s Saturday night and the air is also cold. But it’s a sign. Conte’s bench, seen from De Laurentiis’s point of view, did not waver in the slightest. But the words of Dall’Ara, the man from Lecce, are sharp and not careless: and when they come from the mouth of someone like him, we must be careful that they are not translated into action. Atalanta came and Conte wanted a reaction. He demands the team’s comeback with an air of total confidence: he is a tricky but very good coach and knows how to draw blood from a turnip. Therefore, wherever he went, he later regretted it. Tonight, we needed to win for two important reasons: to lift ourselves back up the standings and put bad thoughts aside. Conte is tense and can only be like this. If this match is so important then it is his mistake to say something, his accusation to the team. «If we play in Napoli, we can beat anyone», he repeated since the start of the season and even now. However, the real issue is how the team will perform, whether they will have the ability to react, whether anyone will be themselves again. The reason is that Conte hopes that the electric shock will work, as happened after the 6-2 score against PSV. Therefore, it seems likely that Jesus will return in defense with three centre-backs and Di Lorenzo in midfield. More or less a reflection of Palladino’s thinking. There were a lot of absences, there’s no point remembering them, but the first time without Anguissa and De Bruyne prompted deep reflection: McTominay and Hojlund were closer, with Neres’ (hopefully inspired) imagination, it was a very pleasing solution on paper. Moreover, the team that will take the field can easily beat Atalanta, without any hesitation or doubt.
With one caveat: they are all being watched. The decline in performance highlighted by Conte is not much questioned or the fate of several players in January (Lang and Lucca can already leave), as well as the fact that the team is only two points away from first place is being questioned by its coach. Blatantly and in some cases, even excessively. The feeling is that the night against Atalanta and immediately after the game against Qarabag, they will have to say some firm and definite words about the fate of the Azzurri. All the threads are thin, you need to strengthen the ropes and tie a few knots but the situation is not that bad at all. However, against Atalanta Napoli can no longer lie to themselves, they have to deal with the problem and deal with it well. Also because all the goals of the season are achievable and the axis between De Laurentiis and Conte should give strength to the whole environment. The owner chose to hand over the management of this moment to Conte. Further evidence that the storm may have been just a tornado. But with Conte, it’s better to never take anything for granted. There isn’t anything. Both in choices on the field and – most importantly – off the field.
