Antonio Conte admits Napoli are conceding too many goals, but defends his decisions after the team’s 2-1 defeat to 10-man AC Milan.
Antonio Conte acknowledged that Napoli’s recent defensive performances have been concerning, with the team conceding too many goals in their last few matches.
Despite the 2-1 defeat to AC Milan, Conte defended his decisions, including the selection of Luca Marianucci and Miguel Gutierrez, who made their debuts in the starting XI.
The game was marked by two early goals for Milan, with Christian Pulisic setting up Alexis Saelemaekers’ opener and scoring the second himself.
Conte admitted that conceding so early made things difficult for his team, but he liked the way Napoli played overall. “It’s a pity we conceded so early, the team as a whole could’ve done better on both those situations,” Conte said.
Conte emphasized that Napoli’s defensive strength has always been a key aspect of their game, and the team needs to work on improving in this area.
“Defending has always been our greatest strength, so we’ve got to keep working and improving,” he said. Despite the defeat, Conte highlighted the positives, noting that Napoli played with authority against a solid Milan side at San Siro.
The match saw Napoli’s defense reshuffled due to injuries, with Marianucci and Gutierrez starting in place of the injured players. Conte explained that Marianucci was chosen because he has been training well and earned the opportunity to play. “Marianucci is a player who was bought by Napoli, so he is part of the squad,” Conte said.
Conte also addressed the substitutions he made during the game, including taking off Kevin De Bruyne, who seemed irritated with the decision. Conte insisted that he made the right changes to introduce fresh legs and try to change the game’s momentum.
“I hope he was irritated at the result, because if he was irritated about something else, he is dealing with the wrong person,” Conte said firmly.
The defeat means Napoli are now tied at the top of the Serie A table with Milan and Roma, having lost their perfect start to the season. Conte acknowledged that the team needs to work on their finishing and defensive solidity, but he remains positive about the team’s prospects.
