Napoli, Beukema: “Never felt this fit thanks to Conte’s work” | OneFootball

Following Napoli's victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League (2-1, double by Hojlund), Dutch defender Sam Beukema gave an interview to the newspaper AD, discussing his personal moment and his growth journey with Antonio Conte's team.

Beukema: “I've never been in such good shape thanks to Conte's work”

“The atmosphere in the Champions League was extraordinary” — Beukema explained — “When I heard the anthem, I felt a very strong emotion. Playing in a stadium like Maradona's, with this energy, is something I had never experienced before”.

About the summer preparation, the defender highlighted the great intensity of the work imposed by the coach from Salento: “We underwent two very hard retreats, with double daily sessions and often without touching the ball. Now that we play every three days it's different, but the amount of work remains very high. I don't think I've ever been in such good shape. In the long run, this physical condition will make the difference”.

“I adapted quickly in Napoli. Here, the game and life are different”

Beukema quickly adapted to the new reality, showing solidity and reliability in Napoli's defensive rotations. “I feel really good here from the first day. Conte's demands are high, much more than I was used to at Bologna, but this encourages me to improve. We also play differently tactically, but I'm learning a lot”.

The Dutchman then highlighted the importance of his teammates in his growth journey: “Training with champions like De Bruyne is a privilege. It pushes you every day to give something more. In my career, I've always taken one step at a time and I want to continue to grow here, without skipping steps”.

“Napoli is pure passion. People here are really crazy about football”

The former Bologna defender also described his daily life in the city of Naples, emphasizing how the sporting and human dimensions are intertwined: “Living in Napoli is a unique experience. Everything is more intense, bigger. People here are completely crazy about football, but in a positive sense. I absolutely wanted to experience this atmosphere, and it's one of the reasons why I chose Napoli”.

Beukema then added a passage about the historical link between the city and Diego Armando Maradona: “I know well what he represents for the people. Maradona is still today a kind of deity. It's incredible how much he is still loved: wherever you go, you find his face, his name, his legend. This devotion makes you understand how much football is part of everyday life here”.

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