Manna: ‘Napoli chose Conte to rebuild, but it is a process’ | OneFootball

Napoli director Giovanni Manna warns they chose Antonio Conte’ to rebuild and we picked the best possible, but it is a process’ as they go head-to-head with Inter for the Scudetto.

It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Last week’s 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta has blown the title race wide open, as they are currently joint top of the table on 25 points with Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina, while Inter are one point behind going into this showdown.

Manna and Conte keep Napoli on their toes

epa11691235 Napoli�s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli, in Milan, Italy, 29 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

“We have been consistent with the message we had at the start of the season, we take it one day at a time. Italian teams are doing very well in Europe, so the level of the league is raised and we are happy to play in this wonderful atmosphere,” Manna told DAZN.

“We always said that we would remain concentrated and positive, both in good and bad moments, because that is how you go through life. We keep working, we prepared the match well during the week and focused on the details, so we hope for a good performance.”

Conte has repeatedly stated that Inter and even Atalanta are currently stronger squads than Napoli, so does Manna agree with that approach?

“It is an objective fact, Inter dominated the league last season, they already had their new players lined up by March, while Atalanta won the Europa League, are in the Champions League and played the European Super Cup. We are working at our own pace,” agreed the director.

“Antonio Conte is hardly a discovery. We did not choose a coach to get back to winning ways immediately, we chose a coach to rebuild and we picked the best possible. We know where we want to end up and that it requires a process.

“Of course, his curriculum speaks for itself, but as the President said, we are trying to rebuild and are asking for some patience. We won’t stop anyone dreaming, but we must also recognise that there will be some negative moments along the way.”