Conte admits Napoli win was impossible after red card | OneFootball

Napoli manager Antonio Conte accepted that a win was out of reach after his team were reduced to ten men against Manchester City last night.

The Serie A outfit opened their Champions League campaign at the Etihad Stadium, facing Pep Guardiola’s side in a tough test.

Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was dismissed for a challenge on Erling Braut Haaland inside the first 20 minutes, leaving Napoli at a disadvantage.

Haaland later broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with a close-range finish, before Jeremy Doku sealed victory with City’s second goal.

Conte on Napoli’s defensive effort

Conte admitted afterwards that playing against City with a full squad is already tough, but going a man down left them with no chance.

He told TNT Sports: “It is already difficult to play against Manchester City, 11 versus 11. After 20 minutes, it was impossible.”

Defensively, we were good, and the two goals, I think, we can do much better. But I do not have anything to tell my players because the commitment and the attitude were good.

“If we continued 11 versus 11, we could see another game in my opinion.”

The game marked Kevin De Bruyne’s first meeting with City since leaving for Napoli this summer.

However, Conte was forced to substitute the Belgian midfielder early to adjust after the sending off.

“It was the only substitution that I could do,” Conte added. “I was really sorry for him because it was the game against his old team, but I think Kevin understood it very well.”

Napoli face Pisa as they continue their Serie A title defence this weekend.