Napoli, Conte: Proud of Champions League, focus now on Cagliari | OneFootball

Napoli returns to play at the Maradona after the historic night of their fourth Scudetto, once again facing Cagliari, the same opponents as last May 23rd.

Napoli, Conte: “Proud of the Champions League, but our focus is on Cagliari. We tried to bring in players who can help us score more goals”

The match, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, also marks the first home game of the season and represents a symbolic moment to strengthen the bond between the team and the fans.

On the eve of the match, Antonio Conte met with the press to present the game and take stock of the league and the Champions League.

On returning to the Maradona and the relationship with the fans: “It will be a joy to reunite with our fans three months after the Scudetto celebrations. These are moments of great enthusiasm and happiness for everyone involved. Tomorrow we must approach the match with the same desire and determination, maintaining that connection with the crowd that can be our twelfth man on the pitch. What’s done is done; now we look ahead.”

On Cagliari and the approach to the match: “I expect focus and competitive aggression, just like last May. Cagliari comes off a good draw against Fiorentina and will be a motivated team. If we think we’re already the reigning Napoli champions, we’d be making a mistake in our approach. We need to face the match with determination to deliver a high-level performance.”

On the league and the first signs of the season: “Serie A confirms itself as a difficult and balanced league. There are 7-8 very competitive teams and it will be necessary to fight in every match. Every result must be evaluated carefully, but our focus remains on Cagliari.”

On the Champions League: “We are very happy to participate in this competition. There is excitement and a desire to compete with the best, but also humility to learn from the masters of the tournament and maybe surpass them one day. For now, our full attention is on the league.”

Injury updates:

Gutierrez: “His recovery program is progressing, he’s also working with the ball. We’ll assess over the next two weeks whether he can return to full training.”

Buongiorno: “He’s making significant progress after the surgery, he’s more relaxed in training and getting closer to returning.”

Meret: Conte preferred not to reveal the goalkeeper’s lineup, emphasizing that the choice is already clear to the team.

Expectations and keys to the match

Napoli is looking for consistency at the Maradona and wants to confirm the winning spirit of last season. Cagliari, a compact team skilled in ball possession, represents an important test to assess the growth of the Neapolitans under Conte. The key to the match will be intensity, focus, and the bond with the fans—elements that have often determined Napoli’s success in recent years.

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