Antonio Conte underlined his ambitions, ardour and plan at his Napoli unveiling, noting the necessity to ‘switch this need for revenge onto the pitch’.
After a 12 months of chaos and distress, the Partenopei have determined to start out a brand new challenge underneath the previous Chelsea and Italy tactician, who signed a three-year contract on the membership. Hopes are excessive within the Campania capital after a post-Scudetto marketing campaign that noticed three coaches on the helm.
Conte has already needed to battle with some switch market considerations at Napoli, with Victor Osimhen trying to head off to a brand new membership, Giovanni Di Lorenzo pushing to depart and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia seemingly courting curiosity from Paris Saint-Germain and extra.
Conte presentation at Napoli
Talking at his Napoli presentation by way of TMW, Conte first mentioned the occasion and the reception obtained from the followers.
“That is the primary time I’ve been offered on this manner, so there’s additionally a thread of emotion regardless of a number of years in soccer. I thanks.
“I undoubtedly thank Napoli, as a result of often I give one thing earlier than receiving it. Right here it was the other, a lot enthusiasm, a lot affection. Now all I’ve to do is give again.”
He was requested if he had a promise to present the Napoli followers.
“What I can promise is seriousness, a phrase that’s typically underestimated. Seriousness in giving every part for Napoli, in transmitting my tradition at work, my mentality. The transmission of my footballing concepts. The purpose of a coach, moreover excelling, is to make his followers proud.
“The followers should recognise themselves of their crew, our final purpose is to make the followers pleased with their gamers, of the soccer they play. With regards to a sweaty shirt, that in soccer there may be victory and defeat.
“However in defeat there mustn’t be the extenuating circumstance of not having given our greatest. What I can promise is that we’ll give our greatest, greater than our greatest as a result of typically the perfect is just not sufficient.”
Conte commented on the technique to realize his objectives.
“Naples is a crucial, passionate place. It was and can stay so past gamers, coaches, and possession. Ardour for soccer and to your crew is a good attribute.
“On our half we’ll attempt to feed this ardour, as a result of it already exists. There’s a nice hearth right here, possibly we are able to make it even increased all collectively, to attempt to obtain our objectives.”
Conte spoke about what his Napoli crew might want to have.
“A p*ssed off face, as a result of we come from a 12 months the place many issues didn’t go proper. We’ll should switch this need for revenge onto the pitch, in all respects, on a footballing and behavioural degree. Available in the market we’ll attempt to do the perfect issues past South America, Asia, Africa and so on.”
Conte defined why he determined to tackle the Napoli job.
“I selected Napoli for the challenge, this should be clear. I signed a three-year contract, the president was very clear in what we may do. As a result of it’ll be primarily based on conditions which can be suitable with the membership.
“The challenge I talked about with the president is to search for a substitute for the standard Napoli as quickly as potential. 14 years Napoli has managed to get into Europe, there was correct administration, a Scudetto has been received. Final 12 months was not a great 12 months.
“It’ll take time and persistence, I’m of the ‘those that have time don’t await time’. We are going to attempt in each solution to take this duty. That is the challenge. It gave me nice enthusiasm, I felt one thing in my abdomen.
“I can’t wait to start out. Some fascinating provides had arrived from overseas, however there was a promise with the president that we’d meet once more. When the talks have been over, we’d resolve whether or not to resolve to work collectively or to proceed individually.
“We discovered the suitable steadiness in every part, within the need, within the ambition. Me, the president and the entire membership will attempt to lay a stable basis for one thing essential that may final.”
Conte was requested how Aurelio De Laurentiis managed to persuade him to take the job.
“You’re speaking to a person from the south, I used to be born in Lecce and I maintain my roots. I do know what it means to stay within the south and what soccer represents for the south.
“For me it is a return dwelling, as coach of an awesome consultant of the south. It’s an awesome satisfaction and an honour to return to the south as a coach.”
Conte mentioned how lengthy it’ll take to rebuild issues at Napoli.
“As I mentioned earlier than, ‘those that have time don’t await time’. I’d wait till tomorrow to do battle on all factors of view. Then you definately additionally should be real looking: two years in the past, we received the Scudetto, however final 12 months we completed 40 factors behind the crew that received the title.
“Tenth place and out of European competitors after 14 years. You shouldn’t suppose that you simply change coach and every part will return to the best way it was.
“There’s a nice challenge, in my view we are able to’t compete with the standard groups for wages and investments, as a result of we’re speaking about different realities.
“However we are able to compete for work, work tradition, sacrifice. Once I mentioned ‘Amma faticà’, on this no person can beat us. On wages and investments there are different realities.
“However with the tradition of labor, I feel we are able to bridge this hole, I don’t know in what timeframe, however that I don’t have quite a lot of persistence to be a supporting participant.”
Conte was requested how he’s dealt with the preliminary issues with some Napoli gamers.
“We’re dealing with them along with the membership in the very best manner. I used to be very clear with the president, earlier than speaking about different financial and contractual elements, I needed the reassurance that I’d resolve who would keep and who may maybe take different paths exterior Napoli.
“On this I used to be very categorical and really clear. If we speak about reconstruction and we speak about freely giving gamers, it’s all nonsense. I discovered 200% settlement from the president and the membership. I spoke to all the fellows, I known as all of them to make our concepts and plans identified.
“I additionally heard what they needed to say. However ultimately if there are issues, they’ll remedy them, as a result of the choice is all the time mine. The gamers who’re a part of the challenge might be 200% Napoli gamers, this should be clear to everybody.
“Since there are those that converse of confusion at Napoli. There isn’t any confusion right here, there may be readability of concepts. We all know what to do and we’ll do it.”
He spoke in regards to the Osimhen scenario, in addition to some others who’ve been floated with a departure this summer time.
“I’ll simply make a remaining touch upon what the president mentioned earlier, underlining a basic reality for me. Di Lorenzo is a prime participant, captain of Napoli, he received the Scudetto and the European Championship.
“I contemplate him a really first rate and essential particular person even within the locker room, the identical goes for Kvara, I feel that final 12 months frustration additionally led to conditions that weren’t clear. The gamers know very properly that there are difficulties, we’re males, and we should roll up our sleeves all collectively.
“Beginning once more this 12 months figuring out that it should be a chance for revenge. So far as Osimhen is worried, simply as I knew very properly in regards to the scenario of Kvara, Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka, on whom I had an absolute veto, I do know very properly in regards to the Osimhen scenario.
“I do know that there are agreements with the membership, it’s a completely completely different scenario, which I’ll witness. Then in the event you ask me in regards to the participant, he’s a prime participant, however I can’t get into any discussions about Osimhen as a result of these are earlier agreements.”
Conte mentioned the goalkeeping scenario.
“Meret is our goalkeeper, he enjoys the utmost belief on my half, I’ve already spoken to him. He is aware of very properly what my private calls for are of him, we’re speaking a couple of goalkeeper who has the very best potential.
“He enjoys the very best esteem and belief from my aspect. On the similar time, we’ve got Caprile coming in, who’s on an essential path, after Bari and Empoli. We’re fortunate to have two goalkeepers who may be the way forward for Napoli.”
He spoke about his strategy at a brand new membership.
“Chelsea two years prior had received the Premier League, then after sending the coach away they completed tenth and the next 12 months we received the Premier League. I feel it was one thing unimaginable as a result of there are tremendous powers within the Premier League.
“What I can not promise is unquestionably victory, as a result of just one crew wins. I can promise that we’ll begin on a path the place we may be aggressive for the win. Then that just one wins and that’s very troublesome.
“I typically say it, head down and work, we should converse little, there’s little time to make claims. Let’s do it with information, not speak. I’m the doer, I’m not the sort to promote scorching air. I’m additionally not too affected person, this sadly or thankfully is our power. We simply should maintain quiet this 12 months.”
Conte weighed in on the expansion of town of Naples and the Campania area.
“That Naples is a gorgeous and increasing metropolis in all respects, as we learn within the newspapers, definitely soccer is a driving pressure for town. The eagerness that there’s at Napoli is past every part, it’ll all the time be there. Naples is sick for soccer. Sick in a constructive sense.
“There’ll all the time be this ardour that’ll contain everybody. In an goal manner I feel town should enhance by itself. Town and soccer can enhance hand in hand, however they’re two separate issues, however then there are those that should take duty for persevering with on their very own account.
“We will solely indulge this need, it might be fantastic to see Naples develop economically, and on the similar time Napoli battle as they’ve achieved up to now to carry pleasure extra typically.”
Conte was requested if this was essentially the most intriguing and troublesome problem of his teaching profession.
“Positively a problem that comes on the proper time. I feel I’m a coach who has gained expertise, which leads me to face this fascinating problem with nice need. One particular person requested me: ‘However aren’t you afraid to go and coach Napoli?’ Afraid of what?
“For me it’s a pleasure, figuring out the problem of the problem. Those that know me know that nobody has ever given me something. Ever. What I’ve received, I all the time received with sweat and sacrifice, it’s what my mother and father taught me and it’s what I attempt to cross on to my daughter and my gamers.
“We’ve got to grasp that we’ve got the privilege, the luck and the expertise that the Lord has given us, however we additionally should know that expertise with out the desire to work, with out typically the obsession to enhance, is nothing.
“I do know that this problem comes on the proper time for me as an individual, as a result of I actually need to take pleasure in this ardour and enthusiasm.
“As a result of for me the troublesome factor might be to vary this enthusiasm and this ardour, however I’m satisfied that I can do it as a result of I’ll put every part I’ve into it, as I’ve achieved up to now, that’s clear.”
Conte regarded forward to the switch window and the current trace given by Romelu Lukaku.
“There’s definitely an awesome need to start out the brand new season. Talking with the membership, when years like final occur, we shouldn’t panic. We must be chilly, analytical, make the suitable concerns and make the suitable choices.
“I feel that as a bunch of gamers, most of them might be confirmed as a result of I contemplate them legitimate gamers from all factors of view, not solely technically-tactical but in addition as males. We are going to attempt to do some issues, not many.
“However they should be focused in order that they will carry us advantages and lead us to strengthen ourselves. For this reason after I talked about stable foundations, expertise are essential, in making the suitable choices I additionally know that maybe my best asset can also be with the ability to enhance a participant.
“That’s my purpose and I’ve typically succeeded. I do know that I can depend on a great base right here at Napoli. It’s inevitable that there’ll be incoming and outgoing conditions that we are going to attempt to do in the very best manner, all the time respecting our parameters. We’ll attempt to do the suitable issues to turn into stronger.
“As for Romelu Lukaku, we’re speaking a couple of robust participant, as with Osimhen we’re speaking about wonderful gamers. There’s no remark to make, you simply should admire them once they play and all the time hope to have them in your aspect and by no means in opposition to you.”
Conte mentioned which elements of the squad must be strengthened most.
“The numbers typically don’t inform the reality, however they nonetheless must make us mirror. Final 12 months Napoli conceded 48 objectives, ended up being the tenth worst defence within the league, and surprisingly we ended up tenth.
“And the factor that’s slightly disconcerting is that we conceded 27 objectives at dwelling, taking part in on the Maradona, the fifteenth worst defence. In away video games we solely conceded 21 objectives which might be the fifth finest defence.
“What we definitely must do is discover a steadiness, as a result of I’ve had groups that win or qualify for the Champions League with defences that concede quite a lot of objectives, I begin from the belief that in soccer if you wish to have a profitable purpose there should all the time be a steadiness, an excessive amount of offensive or defensive play doesn’t lead anyplace, you all the time discover the suitable center floor, attempt to steadiness.
“We’ve got to mirror for a second and perceive, as a result of then whenever you concede objectives it’s not solely a query of the defenders and the goalkeeper, similar to whenever you rating objectives. It’s the entire crew working within the defensive and offensive phases.
“By finishing up some analyses, we definitely need to make corrections. There are lots of names going round… We are going to attempt to discover the perfect profile, I repeat, all the time respecting sure parameters.
“This should be clear. In defence we’ll attempt to do one thing each from a tactical perspective and when it comes to altering the era of males, to present extra steadiness and extra substance.”
Conte was requested in regards to the thought of taking part in a three-man backline.
“You’re completely proper as a result of the previous is now the previous, isn’t it? However I feel that in moments of issue once in a while we’ll should see, two years in the past we received the Scudetto and final 12 months we definitely had a 12 months to neglect.
“’Scurdammece or the previous’. It’s definitely proper, however I feel we’ve got to hold the ache inside us slightly. That ache will assist us this 12 months to try this one thing further that we want. That is past the doubt of the gamers which can be essential.
“We’ve got gamers with essential traits, particularly from an offensive perspective. I feel that the great coach is the one who places the gamers able to reinforce their traits. I’ll by no means go behind my very own thought to distort the gamers which can be there.
“I’ll all the time attempt to discover the suitable thought to reinforce the traits of our gamers. From a tactical perspective, I feel we might be very versatile, then I need to work with these guys, as a result of I’m speaking about gamers seen on tv.
“The underside line is when I’ve them in hand, I’ll really understand the traits of every particular person participant. Then I have already got an thought of mine, however the need will all the time be to attain another purpose than the opponent, in any other case we received’t win.”
Conte spoke about how helpful it’ll be to work with out European competitors.
“I begin from the belief that I do the correct quantity of labor. Or are there others who don’t work… If I examine my work with what I used to be used to doing as a participant, I feel that when it comes to effort we do a 3rd at this time.
“Soccer has turn into a way more of a instrument, individuals use the ball much more as a result of they get distracted and don’t give it some thought and so they battle much less. However I feel that typically it’s a must to really feel the fatigue, as a result of within the battle you study to know your self, to deal with stress, stress, issue.
“And so, behind the working methodology there’s a philosophy, which I’ve nonetheless created in my head after 15-20 years of soccer profession, additionally having the pleasure of being educated from a bodily perspective from a Neapolitan, who I like to recollect, Gianpiero Ventrone who sadly is now not with us. So, we’ll work as laborious as we are able to to enhance, we’ll do it with none ifs or buts.”
Conte was requested about the way forward for Kvaratskhelia.
“He’ll keep. I really feel no doubts. I repeat, there isn’t a must have them. I’ve been very categorical about this. I wouldn’t even need this chorus to occur once more sooner or later. The president gave this glorious information.
“Kvaratskhelia is the kind of participant who there’s are fewer and fewer with these traits, which is why it’s not a whim to need to maintain Kvara, I contemplate him a extremely robust participant, like Di Lorenzo.
“Robust in one-on-one conditions if he’s on the wing, but in addition robust when he comes inside anyway, he’s additionally a playmaker, he creates conditions not solely when it comes to his objectives but in addition essential assists.
“I feel that if Kvara retains systematically on the pitch, I feel he loses his psychological freedom slightly, we’ll do that with him and with the gamers we’ve got within the squad. We’ve got him, Politano, Ngonge, Lindstrom…
“All gamers who nonetheless have the power to beat the person one-on-one however on the similar time play inside. The tactical thought could be very clear, we simply should resolve after we need to defend with 5 gamers as a result of the groups are maybe a lot stronger, or with 4 and settle for numerical superiority. However the best way of build up and attacking might be very comparable.”
