Napoli: De Bruyne shines as Conte bounces back with his maestro | OneFootball

First, the substitutions discussed in the Champions League against Manchester City, and then the one in the big match at San Siro against Milan—two games, two defeats, and a question lingering over the Azzurri environment: what’s happening between Antonio Conte and Kevin De Bruyne?

Napoli, De Bruyne Still the Driving Force: Conte Rises Again with His Technical Leader

The Belgian talent, who arrived as a symbol of the new Neapolitan era, does not seem to be the true permanent center of gravity for his coach. This was confirmed again against Genoa, where number 17 started from the bench.

Conte: “He needs to be managed.” But De Bruyne Changes the Game

After the match at the “Maradona”, Antonio Conte explained his choice as follows: “He needs to be managed,” said the coach from Salento, hinting at both a physical and mental management of the champion.

But the feeling is that rather than being “managed”, De Bruyne should be used, because he is not a luxury on the bench, but a waste not to have him on the pitch. Upon his entrance, in the 50th minute with Napoli trailing 0-1, the match changed completely.

The Impact on the Match: Leadership, Vision, and Rhythm

Coming on with personality, De Bruyne immediately took control of the game’s direction. He dictated the tempo, slowed down the pace when needed, recovered balls and—above all—gave meaning and direction to Napoli’s possession.

In just a few minutes, he threw Genoa’s defense into confusion, providing assists, shooting on goal, and dictating passing lanes impossible for opponents to read. He was the one orchestrating the comeback that took Napoli from the brink of a 0-1 defeat to final victory.

An entrance that reminded everyone—fans, teammates, and opponents—who the real technical leader of this team is.

Napoli, a Balance to Be Found Between Hierarchies and Needs

This is not a new topic: Conte demands intensity, pressing, and preventive coverage. De Bruyne, on the other hand, offers quality, vision, and game tempo. Two different footballing worlds that must learn to coexist if Napoli wants to remain competitive on three fronts.

The Belgian cannot be just a player to be managed. With him on the pitch, Napoli changes pace, becomes more unpredictable and, above all, more dangerous in the final third.

The Signal from the Maradona

When De Bruyne came on, the stadium erupted in a roar. A clear signal, almost a request from the fans: to see their star as a protagonist and not a bit player. And the response on the pitch was immediate: Napoli turned the match around and climbed back up the standings.

Tactical Analysis: De Bruyne as the Key to Conte’s System

Whether as a central midfielder in the 3-5-2 or as an attacking midfielder behind Hojlund, De Bruyne remains the man capable of linking midfield and attack. With him, the pace of play quickens, the runs become more precise, and the midfielders make better forward runs. Without him, Napoli appears more predictable and linear.

Conte knows this, but continues to demand defensive balance. The challenge for the coach will be precisely this: to find a compromise between tactical discipline and creative freedom. And perhaps, after the performance against Genoa, the message has come through loud and clear.

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