Antonio Conte reacts angrily after Napoli’s Coppa Italia penalty shoot-out defeat to Como, criticising refereeing standards and highlighting a severe injury crisis in the team.
Antonio Conte vented his frustration following Napoli’s Coppa Italia quarter-final exit to Como, but insisted his anger was not solely about refereeing decisions.
The Partenopei were eliminated after a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was followed by a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat, ending their hopes of domestic cup success this season.
Final en penales. pic.twitter.com/A2XoN7QwQZ
— Oficial SSC Napoli (@sscnapoliES) February 10, 2026
Napoli had fallen behind to a Martin Baturina penalty before Antonio Vergara struck just seconds into the second half to restore parity. However, controversy quickly overshadowed the contest. Around the 50th minute, Jacobo Ramon avoided a second yellow card for a foul on Rasmus Hojlund at the edge of the box, a decision that enraged the Napoli bench. Some felt the earlier challenge on Hojlund warranted a straight red for denying a clear scoring opportunity.
When asked about the officiating, Conte initially attempted restraint but made his dissatisfaction clear. “Let’s not always go and talk about referees, because there’s always going to be someone complaining,” he told Sport Mediaset. Still, he admitted it has “certainly not been a good season for referees and VAR,” calling for improvements across the board.
Conte argued that the widespread criticism from coaches, players, and fans indicates a systemic issue. “The sport needs to step up and improve,” he said, adding that referees and VAR officials must raise their standards just as teams strive to improve performances. “It’s not good for football, it’s not good for us.”
The tie ultimately went to sudden death in the shoot-out, where decisive misses from Romelu Lukaku and Stanislav Lobotka sealed Napoli’s fate. Despite the disappointment, Conte was quick to praise his players for their effort under difficult circumstances, pointing out that Como arrived with a fully rested squad after 10 days without action.
By contrast, Napoli had played just three days earlier against Genoa, finishing that match with 10 men and losing Scott McTominay to injury. The injury crisis has become a defining theme of their campaign, with several key players sidelined for extended periods.
Conte highlighted long-term issues affecting Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour, insisting such setbacks are impossible to predict.
“I can only praise these players, because we are pushing beyond our current potential,” Conte said. With Napoli already out of the Champions League and now the Coppa Italia, he stressed that the squad’s limited resources make their efforts “incredibly positive, in the circumstances.” He also revealed that the club had minimal room to manoeuvre in the transfer market, bringing in only two young players to help cover gaps.
When asked whether Napoli could now focus solely on Serie A and mount a Scudetto challenge, Conte responded with visible irritation. With a nine-point gap separating them from the leaders and multiple rivals in contention, he dismissed the suggestion as unrealistic. “We have serious problems and you are talking about the Scudetto,” he said. “We have to be serious in questions and evaluations too, otherwise it all becomes ridiculous.”
