Conte: Team Spirit is Key for Napoli

During a Serie A match, Napoli is set to face Juventus. Ahead of the game, Napoli coach Antonio Conte attended a press conference and shared his thoughts on the upcoming match.

Conte said, "Before we start, I want to express my condolences for the passing of Totò Schillaci. He passed away at just 59. As a player, and especially for us from the south, he was a symbol, an example of someone who reached the pinnacle of success. He was a huge role model for all of us. I'm very saddened by his death. I had the honor of playing alongside him at Juventus when I was just 21, and he was already a well-known player. My deepest condolences to his family."

**Is this match too early to be a true test of your team’s level?**

"As I said before the Cagliari game, it’s the same for every team. With the transfer window ending so late, all teams are in a phase of adjustment. Some new players have just joined, and we need to deal with the challenge of playing three matches. We're all trying to find balance, but time waits for no one, and every match is worth three points. We’re looking for good performances and opportunities to score because these points will be crucial at the end of the season. I hope the team continues to improve in all aspects, not just looking back at the last match, but staying grounded, as every match is a test for us."

**This match is special for everyone, for you, the city, and the team. Is it an exaggeration to call this game a “test”?**

"Every match is a test. The match against Cagliari was a test in some ways, especially emotionally, in a very challenging environment. Sometimes it can be a tactical test, an environmental test, or even a mental test. We must approach it with the utmost seriousness, no matter who the opponent is."

**Napoli is in a rebuilding phase, while Juventus just finished third in the league and made significant investments.**

"We hope this match is crucial for both teams, but it's still too early to say. The two teams are starting from different points. Last year, we were 18 points behind them, but there’s no doubt that both sides will be full of determination. I don’t think a team like Juventus would be satisfied with third place, far behind Inter. And we certainly can't accept being 20 points behind them and 40 points behind AC Milan. We’re starting from different places, but we hope to have clearer goals by the time we return home."

**Are you used to facing your former club as both a player and coach?**

"It’s inevitable. My history is very clear—I played for Juventus for 13 years, served as captain for many years, and won almost every honor. I had the opportunity to coach Juventus for three years and start the era of championships. I am a part of Juventus' history; that’s undeniable. As a player, it’s easier to choose to stay with one team for life, like Bruscolotti at Napoli, Maldini, Baresi, Antognoni, or Totti. But as a coach, it’s nearly impossible. I coached Juventus for three years, and my career has taken me to different places, where I’ve defended the honor of those clubs."

"Now, I’m very honored to be coaching Napoli. It’s a source of pride and satisfaction for me. When I return to the Juventus Stadium, I’ll feel emotional. Last time, due to the pandemic, there were no fans. This time, it will be my first time returning with fans. In the future, if I face Napoli as an opponent, I’ll feel the same way, but I hope that happens a long time from now (laughs)."

**Will Napoli approach this match differently?**

"We must put on our best attire. I’ve worked with the players to ensure every game brings a great performance. In the match, you need to be ready, and even if you’re wearing your best suit, you should be prepared to get it dirty. You can't do without the right fighting spirit. Great teams must show flexibility at different moments in the match. Last night, Inter showed that against Manchester City—sometimes they were attacking, and sometimes they were defending. This demonstrated that they are a mature team. Last year, we often leaned towards attacking but were unbalanced in defense, or lacked the fighting spirit. These are areas we are working to improve."

**How much of an impact does physicality have? Your team has five players over 1.90m tall—has Napoli changed compared to last year?**

"There’s definitely been a change compared to last year. 12-14 players left, and we brought in seven new signings. The characteristics of the players have changed too. Physicality is crucial in modern football. Top players must be strong, fast, and have stamina, while technical ability is a basic requirement. We need to become a strong, fast, and resilient team, and that’s what we’re working towards. The team has a new look and is steadily integrating."

**Many believe not participating in European competitions is an advantage. What stage is Juventus at right now?**

"Thiago Motta inherited a great coach’s legacy. Allegri wrote many brilliant chapters in Juventus' history. Coaching Napoli is no easy task; the demand for success there is enormous."

"Competing in Europe has its pros and cons. For a new coach like me, having more time to train is an advantage. Otherwise, playing three games a week would reduce training time. On the other hand, teams not participating in Europe often lack depth, possibly missing 3-4 players."

**Are you satisfied with McTominay, Gilmour, and Neres' adaptation?**

"Over time, they’ve gradually adapted to our tactical system. I trained with David for ten days during the international break, and we had good sessions with Billy and Scott too. This time helped them understand the style of football we want, and I’m pleased with their progress. They are able to contribute to the team."

**Are you concerned about the team missing too many scoring opportunities in matches? Will there be tactical adjustments to strengthen the defense?**

"Every coach hopes to play the perfect match, score four goals, and give the opponent no chances. I hope we can reach that level, but it’s very difficult. Serie A is highly tactical, and every team studies their opponents, so allowing some chances is part of the game. We’ve only conceded one goal in the last three matches, and I’m satisfied with that."

**Kvaratskhelia has been heavily targeted by fouls from opponents. He had to leave the matches against Verona and Cagliari due to fouls that weren’t penalized.**

"I hate violent football. As a player, I never fouled with the intention of hurting someone; that’s not manly behavior. I’ve also never asked my players to foul deliberately. Perhaps in that Cagliari game, the foul in the opening 30 seconds was intimidating, and the referee should have shown a yellow card without hesitation. It doesn’t matter what minute of the match it is—the goal is to protect the safety of players, especially talented ones."

**Any memories or stories about Schillaci?**

"When I first arrived in Turin, as a player from the south, I had a great relationship with him. He was very kind. At the time, I was in awe of everyone on the team because they were all idols to me. Schillaci, despite being a big star, was very humble."

**Revitalizing the team spirit seems to have helped not only new signings like Buongiorno perform well but also reinvigorated Di Lorenzo and Anguissa.**

"Team spirit was the key to Napoli’s success two years ago, and it's the recipe for success for any ambitious team. It’s especially crucial during tough times. I’ve said before that I found a good group here, with no selfish players. That makes it much easier to uphold certain principles within the team."

"Team spirit is forged in the process of facing failures, like the loss in Verona when we were honest about our issues. When facing difficulties, honesty is more useful than false excuses. As I always tell the players, years from now, when we meet again, I hope we can still look each other in the eye and be honest with one another."