The coach after the win over Qarabag: “We have a lot of players out; it’s up to me to instill energy. We hope to have Spinazzola back for Sunday”
Winning in the Champions League as well, to dispel the clouds that had gathered after the loss in Bologna. Antonio Conte is more at ease, but he doesn’t want to let his guard down. “Tomorrow we’ll enjoy this, then we’ll get back in the game because we face Roma on Sunday.” The message is clear, at the end of a special evening—as the coach described it after the win over Qarabag—marking the anniversary of Diego Armando Maradona’s passing. “He represented—and still represents—something that’s hard to explain if you’re not Neapolitan. We wanted to honor this day, which is nonetheless a sad one because it’s the fifth anniversary of his death. There was good energy, which we absorbed and then channeled onto the field.”
The performances against the Azerbaijanis and, before that, against Atalanta were convincing. So it’s fair to wonder what happened in the locker room. Conte clarified a few points. “Napoli wasn’t dead—it’s not a matter of being alive or dead, but of continuing to work and always giving everything we’ve got. Then, we may or may not win games, but we know we must always give our all. This is a very difficult time in terms of player availability; we had seven players on the bench, including two goalkeepers and two young players like Ambrosino and Vergara. We’ve been facing a very difficult period since the start of the year; we have to assume that the players will take the field. If we don’t have them, we have to find different solutions, trying to rely on the same players almost all the time because the risks increase otherwise. We’re moving forward; we’ve played two excellent matches. Let’s not forget Qarabag’s results—there are no easy opponents in the Champions League. I was convinced that by maintaining this pace, we would take control of the match.”
energy to convey— The coach returned to the concept of energy he had emphasized after the match at the Dall’Ara. “It’s incredibly important; I have to be the first to have it because I need to convey it. In Bologna, I took responsibility because I probably wasn’t conveying what I wanted, so it was my fault. I have to perform well; the players have to unleash their energy and act as a team, help each other, and truly be willing to suffer so we can all celebrate together for a single goal. We’ve always done that, and we’ll continue to do so. People often judge us based on match results; I think since the start of the year we’ve been playing catch-up while still dealing with many players out. I can control some situations, but I can’t manage the sprain Gutierrez suffered yesterday during training. It’s a shame, because then people immediately start talking about a crisis without actually seeing what we’re facing.” However, the attitude has changed radically, and the difficulties have ultimately brought the group closer together. “The guys are exceptional; in terms of commitment, everyone’s sense of responsibility has increased exponentially, because there will be many matches we’ll have to play without a full squad. We hope to have Spinazzola with us on Thursday, so we’d have another option to replace the Spaniard,” he concluded.
