Napoli: Conte returns to three at the back, Beukema favoured | OneFootball

In delicate moments, returning to the "comfort zone" is often the most effective choice. This is what Antonio Conte is doing, ready to restart with a three-man defense to give solidity and identity to a Napoli team going through a complex phase.

Napoli, Conte returns to his trademark: three-man defense and Beukema ahead of Juan Jesus

The decision, reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, represents a return to the system that has defined the Salento coach's football philosophy for over a decade.

A return to origins to regain certainties

When the pressure increases, the watchword becomes "play simple," which means returning to what works. It's the same principle applied to tennis players in moments of crisis: avoid the impossible and focus on what is known. For Conte, this means relying again on the three-man defense structure, the pillar that has accompanied:

the three consecutive championships with Juventus

the experiences with the National team

the stint at Chelsea, where that system was perceived as a revolutionary solution

the winning cycle at Inter

In Napoli, after complicated weeks, the coach is ready to use again the tactical setup built during the summer of 2024, when he had based the project precisely on a solid, aggressive three-man defense capable of supporting pressing and transition.

The formation choice: Beukema ahead of Juan Jesus

For the match against Atalanta, the defense is likely to be composed of Rrahmani, Buongiorno, and one between Beukema and Juan Jesus, with the Dutchman currently favored. The decision reflects the coach's intention to rely on a defender who is quicker in anticipation and one-on-one situations, crucial characteristics against a team like the one from Bergamo.

As reported by Gazzetta through Vincenzo D’Angelo's analysis, Napoli "starts again from three," not only numerically but conceptually: it starts again from a recognizable identity, from the solidity and organization that have always been Conte's trademark.

A new beginning to relaunch the project

The choice is not only tactical but also psychological. Returning to the system most congenial to the coach aims to represent an act of continuity towards the team and a sign of trust towards a group that needs certainties. The match against Atalanta thus becomes a crossroads: not a revolution, but a counter-revolution designed to restore order, balance, and mentality.

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