Conte’s Napoli impress: solid defence, system works, Neres stars | OneFootball

Antonio Conte once again confirms his ability to turn difficulties into opportunities. The wave of injuries that has hit Napoli in recent weeks forced the coach to redesign the tactical setup and hierarchies, but the result is a more cohesive, more balanced team, once again capable of asserting itself at the top of Serie A.

Conte’s “new” Napoli dominates the emergency: stronger defense, effective formation, and a super Neres leading the charge

During the break, the coach recharged his energy and ideas, arriving at Castel Volturno with a clear plan: return to a three-man defense and make the most of the wide players Neres and Lang, who until then had been rather ineffective. The choice paid off.

The victories against Atalanta and Qarabag had already provided encouraging signs, but the real turning point was the win against Roma, who had been league leaders up to that point. It was a match prepared down to the smallest detail: high aggression, compact lines, and the ability to quickly overturn the play.

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High pressing, solid defense, and lightning-fast transitions

Napoli immediately put Roma in difficulty, preventing Gasperini’s team from building up play consistently. Di Lorenzo and his teammates maintained compactness between the lines, limiting central spaces and forcing their opponents into difficult choices.

As always in Conte’s football, the management of transitions was lethal. Here, David Neres made the difference: speed, bursts, and the ability to attack spaces make the Brazilian a weapon that’s hard to contain in Serie A. The move that led to the opening goal, which started after a Rrahmani intervention on Koné that sparked protests from the Roma side, was a flawless coast-to-coast run, coolly finished by Neres and enhanced by Hojlund’s off-the-ball work.

Hojlund valuable even without scoring

The Dane didn’t get on the scoresheet, but played a match full of sacrifice, constantly dueling with Ndicka and opening up crucial spaces for his teammates’ runs. Conte appreciates his dirty work and his ability to provide constant depth to the attacking play.

Milinkovic-Savic saves everything at the end

Having managed their lead with discipline, Napoli only risked it in the 90th minute, when Milinkovic-Savic made a decisive save on Baldanzi. A three-point save that certifies the team’s growth, even in terms of emotional management.

From crisis to the top: Napoli regains confidence and ambition

The most difficult period, which culminated in the defeat against Bologna before the break, now seems to be behind them. The reaction has been clear and convincing: Conte has found a compact, aware group, perfectly adapted to the new system of play.

Once the injured players return, the squad’s potential—already among the most competitive in the league—will be even greater. And with a coach like Conte at the helm, reigning champions Napoli rightfully return to being one of the main contenders for the Scudetto.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.