Antonio Conte was visibly frustrated during his post-match interview following the defeat to Verona, describing the performance as unacceptable. “In the first half, there was only one team on the pitch, Verona didn’t even have a shot. But after the break, we conceded a shot quickly and then went behind. After that, we collapsed like snow under the sun,” he stated. Conte offered humble apologies to the passionate Napoli supporters, acknowledging his role as the coach and taking full responsibility for the team’s performance.
Conte dismissed any excuses related to the challenging summer transfer market. “Beyond the transfer situation, the most worrying thing is that when faced with the first signs of difficulty, we melted away,” he expressed. He emphasized that regardless of whether new players come in, the core issue needs to be addressed. “I found a group that struggles under pressure. This is serious, and it cannot be changed overnight. Patience is essential. I believe I have the experience to speak about these matters; I won’t just speak to fill the silence,” he added.
Regarding Victor Osimhen’s situation, who has been effectively sidelined despite having two years left on his contract and is waiting for a transfer that hasn’t materialized, Conte refrained from commenting directly. “That’s a question for the club. What I see is that Osimhen has been training alone since pre-season. However, beyond any individual player, we need a stronger attitude and more willingness from the entire team.”
