The coach, ahead of the match against Fiorentina, stated: “In the initial two games, we leaned on the established strengths of last season. Now, we must integrate our new players, which will naturally demand patience and understanding.”
NAPLES, ITALY – August 22, 2025: Antonio Conte speaks at a press conference for Napoli.
Antonio Conte is preparing his squad for a crucial period. “The moment of truth has arrived because we will begin playing every three days, and it will undoubtedly be a complex season for us,” he declared during the press conference previewing the match against Fiorentina. Within five days, Napoli will face Fiorentina, followed by Manchester City in the Champions League. Conte explained, “In the first two matches, we relied on the certainties from the previous season. Now, we need to integrate the new players, and this will clearly require some patience and understanding, especially if errors occur. Wearing this jersey, especially with the Scudetto, carries significant expectations. Therefore, we must be tolerant, avoiding harsh judgments. There will be opportunities for everyone. This year will be particularly challenging because many new players have joined an important club. My goal is to help them improve as quickly as possible. We are in the second phase of our project, and we are doing it as champions, which inevitably changes how we are perceived.”
VIDEO: Hojlund`s joyful reception from fans upon his arrival at Villa Stuart.
Latest Arrivals and Team Adjustments
The coach did not provide specific details on the starting lineup. “Rrahmani`s absence is a major blow, considering he played every game last year. The risk of injuries will be higher, and we have tried to prepare for these situations. We have Beukema and Marianucci, who must quickly adapt to this environment to become future mainstays. Buongiorno is recovering from surgery; he has recuperated and is ready to play, though he also lacks match fitness after a prolonged absence. Fantasy football? We are subjected to absurd external pressures; imagine if we could listen to everyone,” he said with a laugh. Initial impressions of the latest arrivals, Elmas and Hojlund, have been quite positive. “I`ve seen them doing well; they are ready players. The more time we have to work together, the more improvements there will be, but we need immediate contributions. We had to compensate for Lukaku`s injury, which led to revising some strategies. Elmas was specifically acquired due to his versatility; he can play both as a winger and a midfielder. Anguissa played on Tuesday and returned yesterday, so he is available and in good condition, having experienced no issues with the national team.”
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The Goalkeeper Situation
One of the most interesting competitions throughout the season will be between the two goalkeepers. “Both are excellent. Meret is a proven performer, the goalkeeper of our two Scudetti. Milinkovic-Savic comes from a different background and is integrating well. We will endeavor to find the right time and opportunity to give him playing time as well. Vanja possesses different characteristics from Alex; he too will certainly get his chances.” Finally, Conte shared his high regard for Pioli`s Fiorentina. “The danger lies in the opponent itself; it is a team that has reached two European finals and knows how to manage dual commitments while achieving excellent results. They also had a very strong transfer market; for me, they are part of that group of 7-8 teams that will be contending for the top positions.”
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