Napoli, Conte and the Champions League: from glory to European curse | OneFootball

The numbers pin down Napoli's coach: 45 matches in the Champions League, only 16 victories. The defeat in Eindhoven confirms a complicated relationship with Europe.

Napoli, Conte and the Champions League: from national triumph to European taboo

Something has cracked in today's Napoli. It's evident to everyone. The new players to integrate, the change of formation, numerous injuries, an athletic condition still uncertain, and perhaps a lesser "cazzimma" compared to last season: a mix of factors affecting the team's performance.

Added to all this is a theme that resurfaces forcefully after the collapse in Eindhoven: the difficult relationship between Antonio Conte and the Champions League.

As has often happened throughout his career, once again the Azzurri coach struggles to assert himself in Europe. The 6-1 defeat by PSV is not just a heavy loss but a new chapter in a recurring story.

The numbers don't lie: the Champions League remains a taboo

The statistics, in this case, speak more than any analysis. From his debut on the Juventus bench to his current experience with Napoli, Conte has collected 45 matches in the Champions League with a record of 16 wins, 14 draws, and 15 losses. The average points per game is 1.38, too low for a coach used to dominating national championships.

In detail:

Juventus: 14 matches – 6 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses

Chelsea: 8 matches – 3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses

Inter: 12 matches – 3 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses

Tottenham: 8 matches – 3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses

Napoli: 3 matches – 1 win, 2 losses

Harsh numbers that confirm an increasingly structural trend: the European Conte cannot make an impact like he does in national tournaments.

The stages of a relationship that never blossomed

Conte's best result in the Champions League remains the one achieved in 2012/13 with Juventus, eliminated in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich. Since then, the coach has reached the round of 16 only twice:

in 2017/18 with Chelsea (out against Barcelona),

and in 2022/23 with Tottenham (eliminated by Milan).

Otherwise, his European adventures often ended already in the group stage, as happened with Juventus in 2013/14 and with Inter in 2019/20, when he was then relegated to the Europa League, reaching the final lost against Sevilla.

The psychological knot: why Conte doesn't break through in Europe

Beyond the numbers, Conte's difficulty in European competitions seems linked to a tactical and mental approach more suited to championships. His football, based on intensity, discipline, and management of episodes, struggles to assert itself against opponents with superior technical skills and in contexts where unpredictability is the norm.

"Cups aren't won just with organization," several analysts observe. "Flexibility, emotional management, and the ability to adapt to different rhythms and styles are needed."

Precisely what has often been missing from Conte's teams in Europe.

Now the Inter test: reaction or surrender?

The present, however, does not allow time for lengthy analyses. After the Eindhoven disaster, Napoli will face Inter at the Maradona on Saturday in a match that can mark the turning point or the definitive downfall.

Conte knows he is expected to deliver a strong response, not only in terms of results but especially on the mental and identity level.

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