Napoli, Conte erupts after Bologna loss: “No more protection” ⚡ No excuses | OneFootball

Napoli is in the midst of an internal storm. After the heavy defeat against Bologna at the Dall’Ara, Antonio Conte decided to break the silence and confront the team harshly. According to La Repubblica, the coach from Lecce held a heated face-to-face in the locker room, during which harsh words were directed at the group leaders.

Napoli, Conte erupts after the Bologna defeat: “I can’t protect you anymore.” Shock in the locker room, excuses are over

“I can’t protect you anymore,” Conte reportedly thundered in front of the players, ending the media and psychological cover he had so far provided to the Azzurri group.

A strong message, marking the end of excuses and the beginning of a new internal phase. The coach, until now, had tried to defend the team from external criticism, but after the fifth defeat of the season, the tension exploded.

Conte, reckoning in the locker room

The confrontation took place immediately after the final whistle at the Dall’Ara. Repubblica describes a tense atmosphere, with harsh words directed at the locker room leaders and a general call to responsibility.

Conte reportedly emphasized that the team can no longer hide behind tactical or physical excuses: “the excuses are over.” The goal now is to regroup during the international break and restart with a new internal balance.

The coach also wanted to reiterate a clear concept: the bench is stable. No stepping back, rather — the message was for everyone to take responsibility, starting with the more experienced players.

Betrayed by the old guard

According to reports, Conte felt betrayed by his loyalists. After noting the insufficient impact of the new signings, the coach decided to rely again on the old championship guard, trusting in a reaction of pride.

But against Bologna, the internal pact was broken. “Only De Bruyne and Milinkovic-Savic have truly gained space compared to the titleholders. The other new additions have made little impact,” writes Repubblica.

Conte reportedly reprimanded his more experienced men for a passive attitude, highlighting the lack of leadership and sacrifice spirit. All this at a time when Napoli urgently needs to regain identity and results.

Decisive break to rebuild the group

Now it’s up to time. The international break will offer a margin to cool tensions and allow Conte to calmly analyze what to do next.

The priority will be to regroup the locker room and bring back the sense of belonging, which seems to have been undermined in recent months. The club, for its part, remains fully supportive of the coach and shares the hard line set after the Bologna defeat.

Conte’s message is clear: from now on, only those who prove they deserve the jersey will be part of the project.

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