Napoli: Conte may use De Bruyne as false nine vs PSV, Lucca dropped | OneFootball

Napoli plays in Eindhoven against PSV in the third matchday of the Champions League. Conte is uncertain about McTominay, a decision that will only be made in the afternoon. The coach might surprise everyone by using De Bruyne as a center forward (in place of Lucca) with Lang and Politano on the wings.

Napoli, Conte considers De Bruyne as a false nine against PSV: Lucca dropped, Hojlund out, and McTominay in doubt

Antonio Conte’s Napoli is preparing for the crucial Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven with many uncertainties in the lineup and a surprising tactical idea. According to La Repubblica, the coach from Salento is considering using Kevin De Bruyne as a false nine, effectively giving up a traditional center forward.

De Bruyne tested as a center forward in training

In recent training sessions at Castel Volturno, Conte has experimented with moving the Belgian star into the role of a mobile central striker, a move designed to provide greater attacking fluidity and to exploit De Bruyne’s vision between the lines. “Conte is considering deploying De Bruyne as a pure false nine: either from the start or part-time, alternating with Lucca,” writes Marco Azzi.

The choice is also influenced by significant absences in the attacking department: Lukaku is still sidelined, while Højlund has been ruled out again. In the recent away match in Turin, the coach had entrusted the attack to Lucca, but the young striker’s performances were unconvincing. Hence the decision to look for an alternative solution.

De Bruyne, in addition to being one of the technical leaders of the group, is also Napoli’s top scorer in Serie A with three goals and two assists in the Champions League. The Belgian has shown excellent form and has expressed his willingness to take on the new role for the good of the team.

McTominay remains in doubt: “He will decide if he plays”

Another question mark concerns Scott McTominay, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Conte confirmed that the Scottish midfielder will not be forced: “He has six stitches on his ankle and we won’t force him, it’s up to him,” explained the coach.

The coach then added a broader reflection on the team’s current situation: “Europe’s top clubs take more risks and we need to learn to do the same. We are conceding more goals, but we are also scoring more. It’s part of the growth process.”

A Napoli in tactical evolution

The match in Eindhoven comes at a key moment for Conte’s technical project. After some setbacks in the league, Napoli is called upon to show maturity and a European identity. The possible use of De Bruyne as a false nine would represent an important tactical turning point, a sign of Conte’s willingness to experiment and adapt to emergencies without sacrificing quality and the construction of play.

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