AS ROMA NEWS – Napoli coach Antonio Conte spoke in a press conference on the eve of the match against Roma. Here are his words:
Do you isolate yourself from the rest, including the market and pretend to ignore it, or do you sense a buzz?
“Those who know me know very well that I don’t isolate myself, I participate, I try to be an active participant in all corporate issues to solve the problem. I try to be an active participant, given my experience, to give my opinion and try to solve it in the best way, and not take it away. There is a difference, in general, between solving the problem and taking the problem away, in soccer. You just postpone it and it will come knocking again.”
You said I hope no damage is done in the market. None have been done, are you happy with that? In 3 points the evolution of your Napoli?
“I said the market return me the same level. It is inevitable that we lost an important player, today however he was not replaced. Everything is fine, but we must not throw smoke in the eyes. By all accounts he is an important player, sold for 70-75mln euros, the other exits have been replaced, Kvara’s to date has not. No one can say we were strengthened with Kvara’s exit or weakened, but objectively a champion came out of the squad that made the first part of the championship anyway. It’s already been 4-5 games since he’s been gone, but it’s fair to keep that in mind, just as it’s fair to keep in mind that these guys have grown in an important way otherwise the 53 points, the same as last year, would not be explained. I credit the boys, it fills me with joy to see how they work, the desire to grow, beyond everything, if we are few in numbers, injuries, they give me availability and in these moments I have to look at what I have at home and not what I don’t have, and make a difference with what I have at home.”
Rome rediscovered, on the rise.
“It’s a squad that has absolute values, it has Dybala, Paredes, Hummels, Ndicka, Dovbyk, Pellegrini, Mancini, goalkeeper Svilar, it’s a team and a complete squad in the 11 and in the spares. It has grown so much, we faced it two months ago and it was Ranieri’s first side, I was listening that at home between the league and Europa League they come from 7 consecutive wins, 23 goals scored and only 3 conceded. It is a testament to the strength of the team, what it expresses at the Stadio Olimpico, in front of a fan that drags, like ours, we will have to be very careful, we know. We prepared it in the right way, knowing that they also came before us last year.”
I didn’t understand the concept of solving the problem and not postponing it.
“It is in general, when there is a problem in a club it is seen as a nuisance and you put it off and don’t solve it, which is often the case in many clubs. Solving it means that tomorrow this problem doesn’t come back.”
Napoli only did 8 counterattacks, you use it less than anyone in Italy. Roma much more, does this change your plan?
“You have to be careful when you attack Roma, with some players you have to be pessimistic and you have to think that the lost ball will come to prepare for the counterattack as well. We want to play a good game, carrying on the speeches from the beginning of the championship, bring a good intensity knowing that if you let Roma play they will take you slowly to the edge of the area and they have the champions’ shots with Dybala and Pellegrini, Angelino and Saelemaekers’ crosses, also centrally, in the phrasing, they use Dovbyk as a reference, they have important qualities and the right experience with people like Pellegrini, Angelino, Mancini, Paredes, Hummels, they have won as well so much.”
Is there regret for a market without players to bring the roster closer to the others in Scudetto contention?
“You have to wait until the end of the market and draw your own considerations. It matters little to me, I’m prepared either way, as I’ve always said, it has to be that way because it’s a boat under sail, not in a harbor. When you’re under sail you have to do everything as a captain to get it to the nearest possible port. It changes little for me, I’ve always said it, it’s up to the club to make the decisions, I can have my say if I’m asked, I’ve chosen to make myself available and so you also accept situations, reiterating, and I’m certainly not discovering this now, the Napoli market will never be that of the bigs, there are parameters to be respected economically, in terms of salary and the will of the players that you have to convince them and so you have to respect them. I know this, we can’t be big, there are different parameters unlike other clubs. Head down and pedal, this is the reality, we cannot complain or be unconstructive, let’s bring the ship to port in the best conditions.”
Was the 3 days of rest given during the week a reward or was there a need to cool down a bit the engine that has been pushing hard since August?
“All things that happen are because someone has earned them. In this case the players earned three days off. We know they deserved them and it was right to give them.”
You mentioned parameters. In that sense, can prospects change? Can this group, as it is, bring out even more?
“This group will continue to want to grow and that is beyond any doubt. The guys have mentality and I am happy because these days of the market are ending. It is inevitable that someone who plays less may have some small thoughts of wanting to go and play. Everyone is well aligned and well focused. I understand everything because I have been a footballer and I understand that someone would have wanted more space by leaving, but the fact that they have decided to stay in Naples gives me enormous satisfaction. I will have to be good at bringing out the best to make a difference with those who are there. They have my utmost confidence, I will continue to raise the bar for them because I know that you can continue to grow.”
Two images from the match with Juve have gone viral, Simeone’s and Politano’s. Would you comment on them for us?
“Everything can affect both positive and negative. Seeing players like Simeone putting his face on the line or Politano not dropping the bone in the 82nd minute and then exulting, but also Ngonge himself or Gilmour. The boys are growing at the level of mentality, at the level of thinking with the “we” and not the “I. It is inevitable that as a footballer you are a bit selfish, always looking at yourself and looking at your performance. The boys are showing that they understand that we all grow together.”
The article Napoli, Conte: “Roma has a squad with absolute values and has the Olimpico dragging. We will have to be very careful” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
