Conte: ‘Napoli felt positive energy, but some things I cannot control’
Antonio Conte insists Napoli felt ‘positive energy’ in their Champions League success against Qarabag and that can help them push through the growing injury crisis.
The Partenopei were feeling the pressure after some disappointing results in Europe, and were particularly frustrated after Rasmus Hojlund saw his penalty saved.
However, they eventually managed to break down giant-killers Qarabag with a Scott McTominay header and another of the Scotland international’s acrobatic volleys that went in off Marko Jankovic.
Coupled with Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Atalanta in Serie A, it does feel as if they have turned a corner.
As if to again show there is unity with the squad, Conte waited at the final whistle to celebrate with his players in the centre circle, as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona marked the fifth anniversary of the Napoli legend’s passing.
Conte rebuilds bond with Napoli players
“It was a special evening for Naples, for Napoli, for all Neapolitans. Maradona represents something it is difficult to explain unless you are here, so we wanted to honour this day,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia.
“There was positive energy in the stadium, we gave it, and also received it.”
It is just over two weeks since Conte’s angry reaction to their 2-0 Serie A defeat to Bologna, when he lashed out at the players and media, saying he didn’t want to carry “a dead” team. So are Napoli alive and kicking?
“Napoli was not dead, so it’s not about being alive. It’s about working and always giving everything we’ve got,” replied the coach.
“We can win games or not, but the lads know they must give everything each time.”
The injury crisis is just getting worse, as Miguel Gutierrez was ruled out by a sprain in training yesterday, joining Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, Leonardo Spinazzola and Romelu Lukaku on the treatment table.
“We are in a very difficult situation, there were seven players on the bench tonight, two were goalkeepers and two young prospects. It is a tough time and has been since the start of the season.
“If you don’t have many players to choose from, then you must find different solutions, also knowing the risks of using the same players repeatedly and making new injuries more likely,” continued Conte.
“We’ve had some good performances against Atalanta and Qarabag, who let us not forget drew 2-2 with Chelsea, they beat Benfica and Copenhagen. There are no easy games in the Champions League.
“I felt a good energy in the team, even at half-time I was confident we would get the result.”
Conte drilled into the issue of that positive energy and insists that is what he was trying to describe during the post-Bologna row.
“Energy is so important, I need to be the first to have a lot of energy that I can pass on to the team. I took responsibility in Bologna, saying perhaps I wasn’t passing on the kind of energy I wanted to. Energy is fundamental, we need the right level, to help each other out, be able to suffer together for a united objective.
“Sometimes people judge teams on results, but I say in such a difficult campaign when we’ve been chasing throughout, it’s tough. There are many situations I can control, but injuries aren’t one of them. Yesterday, we had only 15 minutes to train because of a storm, and in that 15 minutes Gutierrez suffered a sprain.
“People look at the results, say ah Napoli are in crisis, but not the circumstances around the results. When we are in an emergency situation, I feel the responsibility level of everyone has grown exponentially, as the players recognise how tough it is and the danger we are going into.
“Today was the first time Spinazzola didn’t feel pain in the adductors, so I hope he can train with us on Thursday, otherwise we’ll need to find someone else to fill in for Gutierrez. So we’ll enjoy it tonight, then from tomorrow we’ll put the helmet on and get back to battle,” concluded Conte.