CorSport – Napoli, Conte’s tactical tweaks go beyond formations | OneFootball

Conte's Napoli Has Many Solutions: Milinkovic-Savic Is One of Them…

Two victories in five days, a comeback in the Champions League, and the top spot maintained in the league. Conte's liberating shout after the win over Genoa highlights the importance of the three points Napoli secured. They tried to complicate things with a forgettable approach, but then reacted and won like a great team. The night at Maradona Stadium silenced a refrain heard for weeks and the usual baseless convictions. Those who argued that the 4-3-3 was the only suitable formation for this Napoli were proven wrong in 90 minutes. The tactical setup matters, but it's not the only factor that counts. Many ingredients are needed to play well and win. With the trident yesterday, Napoli didn't manage a single shot on goal, never found a game plan, and couldn't build an attacking play. The team changed its face when De Bruyne came on, returning to the four-midfielder formula. This doesn't mean the opposite either: there's no one formation that works and another to discard. You need to be good at changing, from the start or during the match. This is Conte's mission, having more solutions available makes you adaptable to every match and every opponent.

But Napoli's tactical variations don't stop at formations. Conte built another on the market by acquiring Milinkovic-Savic. It seems paradoxical, but the Serbian goalkeeper becomes a key player in building play when opponents press fiercely, as Vieira's team did. The difficulties in the first half in setting up were mitigated with a simple move, considered "old-fashioned" by some, but which can become an important weapon for this Napoli: the long pass. Having a number one like Vanja, with ease and precision in kicking, is an added value, allowing you to play vertically even when pressed high man-to-man. The equalizing goal was born just like that, with a seventy-meter pinpoint trajectory.

But the turning point in the match also came from the substitutions. De Bruyne came on like a champion, bringing order and quality, new energy to the team, and led his teammates. With him, it seemed like a different Napoli, with conviction and awareness. Spinazzola did the same, undoubtedly the best in the end: his versatility, physical exuberance, and quality in one-on-one situations are values that often make the difference. Just like Hojlund's scoring ability makes a difference, with three consecutive goals at Maradona and already four goals in six matches played. There's little to add to the numbers; he's 22 years old and, as Conte says, has incredible room for improvement.

The only negative notes before the break were the injuries to Lobotka and Politano, the umpteenth muscular injuries at the start of this season. Especially because after the break, Napoli will face another breath-taking tour de force: seven matches in 22 days against Torino, PSV, Inter, Lecce, Como, Eintracht, and Bologna. Reaching them as league leaders always gives you an extra boost. Conte knows this well.

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