Napoli before PSV: "We concede more but play better, on McTominay..." | OneFootball

On the eve of the match against PSV, Napoli’s coach spoke at a press conference at the Philips Stadion, previewing the strategies for the game and providing updates on the condition of some key players.

Napoli, Conte: “We’re not here to be the sacrificial victim, our path is clear”

Regarding the performance against Torino and the approach to tomorrow’s match, the coach stated: “In the first half against Torino we looked good, but we lacked concreteness. Overall, I liked the performance, even if the result wasn’t positive. Tomorrow we’re facing a team of great quality, champions of the Dutch league and a constant protagonist. We have to be very careful, but we’re not here to be the sacrificial victim: we want to play our game to the fullest. There will be two phases to manage and we’ll try to do it as best as we can.”

On the improvement in play compared to last season: “We’re conceding more goals, but we’re also scoring more. The team creates many chances, as in the last match. This exposes us to a bit more risk, but it’s the price of growth. Our path is clear: to improve, we have to accept some risk and allow some space at the back. That’s how great teams grow and compete at the highest levels.”

On McTominay’s condition: “Tomorrow we’ll know if he can play. Yesterday he did some individual work, today he took part in part of the training session. He had a minor ankle problem and it will be up to him to decide whether to take the field. Not forcing him is fundamental. If he’s available, he’ll be an important asset; otherwise, we already have alternatives ready. As someone who was a footballer myself, I know very well that each player knows if he can play or not. We have the utmost trust in Scott and the utmost respect for his decision. There’s no point in forcing things in situations that could make things worse, especially after a complicated start to the season. Scott has always made himself available: if he can play, he will; otherwise, he won’t be able to. In terms of qualification, all matches are important and difficult. We need trust and patience, without getting carried away or demonizing, which often happens and doesn’t help.”

A comment also on Beukema: “He’s already played in the Italian league coming from Bologna, unlike Lang who comes from the Dutch league. He’s more used to it. He’s working and trying to improve. He needs to continue on this path. He needs to raise his level and we’ll have to help him.”

Andrea Alati

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