Napoli coach Antonio Conte emphasised the importance of Champions League qualification after his side’s comeback win over Lecce
Antonio Conte insisted that the “common good” of Napoli must come before individual ambitions after his side fought back to defeat Lecce at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli endured a difficult start to the match when Lecce took the lead just three minutes into the game. Defender Jamil Siebert was left unmarked from a corner and headed home to give the visitors an early advantage.
The Partenopei struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, but Conte’s changes at the break transformed the contest. The introduction of Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay injected new energy into the team.
Napoli equalised within a minute of the restart when Rasmus Højlund converted a pull-back from Matteo Politano. Politano then completed the comeback himself, ending a 43-match goal drought and securing a third consecutive victory for Conte’s side.
Conte admitted that some players are still returning from lengthy injury layoffs and may require time to regain full match sharpness. However, he stressed that every decision he makes is guided by what benefits the team as a whole.
According to the Napoli manager, the ultimate objective this season is clear—qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. He emphasised that players must trust his decisions as he manages the squad carefully during a demanding period.
The match also ended with a worrying moment when Lecce winger Lameck Banda collapsed near the touchline after appearing to struggle for breath following a knock to the chest. Conte, who was nearby, immediately called for medical assistance and later expressed hope that Banda would recover quickly, adding that the player and his family were in his thoughts.
