Napoli, Conte: "Worried! We lack heart, I take responsibility" | OneFootball

After the 2-0 defeat against Bologna, Napoli's coach, Antonio Conte, spoke at a press conference from the Dall’Ara Stadium, analyzing the team's current state and the causes of the loss with a clear mind.

Napoli, Conte: “I can't protect anyone, when you lose it's never by chance”

Regarding the performance of the Azzurri, the coach explained: “I certainly can't be unconcerned. Five defeats since the beginning of the year are too many, especially for a team labeled as a league dominator. When you lose, it's never by chance; there's something recurring. Congratulations to Bologna, who beat us in every aspect. We need to try to face some situations and resolve them if possible. In football, just doing the bare minimum is not enough. It takes heart and passion, and Bologna showed plenty of it compared to us.”

Conte then highlighted the difficulties in managing the group: “I'm sorry to bring up the specter of tenth place after the Scudetto, but we need to reflect. I will discuss it with the club. There isn't yet the desire to fight together as there was last year. It means I'm not doing a good job because I haven't gotten into the players' heads. It's right for the club to know. I take all the responsibilities. When extra-football dynamics come into play, when you get into a player's head, it's a tough situation. Heart transplants can't be done. Each of us must rediscover spirit, heart, and grit.”

Regarding Bologna: “I said congratulations to Bologna for the energy that was present between the stadium, the team, and the coach. Last year they won the Coppa Italia; they are certainly an excellent team led by an excellent coach. Today they were superior to us in every aspect.”

Conte concluded by reiterating personal responsibility: “I can't protect anyone; I am the first responsible. It's easy to hide behind others, but it's right to do so while we still have time. When there is heart, passion, and desire, extraordinary things are achieved. If it's missing, it becomes difficult.”

Andrea ALati

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