Napoli, Conte furious: clashes with Sky after 3-0 Fiorentina win | OneFootball

Napoli won convincingly at the Franchi, overcoming Fiorentina with a clear 3-1 victory and maintaining a perfect score in the standings. But despite the success, Antonio Conte’s post-match was far from calm.

Napoli, Conte furious after the match: sparks fly with Sky after the win over Fiorentina

Speaking to Sky, the Azzurri coach appeared nervous, clashing with some of the pundits’ remarks and engaging in a heated exchange with Paolo Condò.

“Fiorentina doesn’t have just ‘decent’ players”

Conte arrived in the interview room already annoyed by the final minutes of the match, which he felt his team suffered through too much. The real spark, however, came when the studio referred to the opponents as “decent players.”

The coach’s response was immediate and firm: “Allow me, but I disagree with what you said. In the last three years, Fiorentina has played in two Conference League finals and a semifinal, as well as a Coppa Italia final and semifinal. We’re not talking about just any team. For years, they’ve been structured to compete on multiple fronts and often go all the way. Fiorentina’s players aren’t just decent, they’re good, strong players. Those who reach certain stages in Europe don’t get there by chance.”

An intervention meant to restore value to Napoli’s victory, which had been called into question by the studio’s comments.

The striker issue: “I count two”

The atmosphere became even more heated when Paolo Condò asked Conte how he would manage the three strikers at his disposal. The Azzurri coach interrupted the question with a pointed correction: “Who’s the third striker? I count two… ah, Lukaku… he’s injured, he’s out of the Champions League. We brought in Hojlund specifically to replace Romelu.”

A clarification that once again highlights the clarity—and rigidity—with which Conte intends to manage his squad, leaving no room for journalistic interpretations.

The sensitive topic: Conte’s attacking play

Nervous and sharp, Conte wanted to reiterate his footballing philosophy, rejecting the label of a “defensive and counterattacking” coach: “It’s not just about attacking the spaces. Today Napoli played the match. To dominate, you also need a striker who can hold up the ball, not just run into space. That’s what all the top strikers in great teams do.”

The topic of counterattacks has always been a sensitive one for the coach. Back at Inter, he had a heated exchange with Fabio Capello, who accused him of playing too cautiously. Back then, Conte closed the discussion with the famous phrase: “Football is beautiful because it’s varied… or spoiled.” Judging by his tone last night, that nerve is still exposed.

Conte, victorious and restless

The scene paints the picture of a coach who, even while leading a team with a perfect record, allows himself neither breaks nor smiles. Conte seems to live every match as a constant battle, where success is not enough unless it’s accompanied by tactical perfection and recognition of the opponents’ value.

An approach that may surprise many, but is an integral part of his method. Because, as has often happened in his career, it’s precisely from this nervous energy that Conte builds his strength.

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