Conte warns Sporting: We have history, but beware, Lions | OneFootball

Sporting visits Naples in the second round of the Champions League and Antonio Conte says the Italians "will be prepared"

Sporting faces Napoli in the second round of the Champions League – see the probable starting eleven HERE. Antonio Conte, coach of the Italians, has a history with the Lions, having lost 2-0 at Estádio José Alvalade and drawn 1-1 at White Hart Lane in 2022/23, when he was in charge of Tottenham. With a negative record, the coach admits that the Italians "will be prepared."

"Sporting is a club that, together with Porto and Benfica, fights for the title in Portugal. It is a top-tier team. I faced them when I was coaching Tottenham and many players from that team have gained experience. We are up against a strong team, but we are prepared," he said at the pre-match press conference.

Antonio Conte revealed some limitations, mainly in the more defensive part of the field: "[Defenders Spinazzola and Olivera] trained separately, we will try to bring them back. We only have Beukema and Juan Jesus as center-backs. We will have to find a solution."

"If you have any ideas, let me know. As for changing the tactical system, I can't play with just one defender. I'm thinking of putting Elmas as a full-back, we don't have many alternatives," said Antonio Conte, responding to the press present.

Sporting will be back on the field this Wednesday, October 1, against Napoli, in a match for the second round of the regular phase of the Champions League.

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