Napoli: Conte brings back Neres and 4-3-3 to free up McTominay | OneFootball

Antonio Conte changes the face of Napoli: against Genoa, room for David Neres and a return to the 4-3-3. The Brazilian is needed to provide width and free McTominay from defensive duties. De Bruyne on the bench, ready for a substitution.

Napoli, Conte relaunches Neres and returns to 4-3-3: the Brazilian to free McTominay from the "dirty work"

This afternoon at 6 PM, against Genoa, Antonio Conte's Napoli will return to the 4-3-3, a formation that marked the most convincing phases of last season. According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport (Vincenzo D’Angelo) and Repubblica Napoli (Pasquale Tina), the Salento coach has decided to relaunch David Neres from the start, with the aim of restoring brilliance to the offensive maneuver and easing Scott McTominay from defensive duties.

"Conte seems ready to relaunch him from the first minute," writes La Gazzetta, "to exploit one-on-one situations and width on the wing, elements that can become decisive in an intense phase of the calendar." After the break, Napoli will face a grueling schedule with seven matches in twenty-two days.

Neres, seeking redemption: "A difficult year, but now I'm coming back"

Arriving for 30 million euros as the designated heir to Kvaratskhelia, David Neres experienced a complicated first year, marked by an injury that caused him to miss eight of the last thirteen games. Despite this, he finished the season with two goals and six assists, confirming himself as a valuable asset for the offensive phase.

Now the Brazilian is ready to take back the spotlight. Conte relies on him not only to bring unpredictability to the attack but also to rebalance the midfield, allowing McTominay to focus more on construction and insertions, without constantly having to cover spaces.

"The trident is made for him," emphasizes La Gazzetta, "Neres can play on both wings, exploiting accelerations and dribbling that can change the face of matches."

De Bruyne rests, McTominay and Neres the balance of the new Napoli

As reported by Repubblica, Kevin De Bruyne will start from the bench, ready to come on in the second half. A management choice that demonstrates Conte's intention to manage resources and allow for more flexible tactical alternation.

"The Brazilian represents a decisive factor to unlock closed matches," writes Repubblica Napoli. "His presence returns Napoli to a familiar setup, with a return to that 4-3-3 that enhances the team's speed and verticality."

The substitution between De Bruyne and McTominay, planned during the match, could become a stable tactical weapon in the coming weeks.

Conte and the "phase two": width, rotations, and enhancement of the squad

The Lecce coach is entering the second phase of his Neapolitan project: greater tactical flexibility, targeted rotations, and full enhancement of players like Lang and Neres, called to ensure a change of pace on the wings.

During the break, Conte was able to work with almost the entire squad, including the latest returnees Hojlund, Elmas, and the young Gutierrez. His goal is clear: to maintain high intensity and create a group of 22-23 interchangeable starters, where no one feels untouchable.

The coach is betting on a Napoli capable of adapting to multiple formations — from 4-1-4-1 to 4-3-3 — and alternating technical quality and physical solidity, key elements to face a season in which the Azzurri are seen as one of the main candidates for the Scudetto and with great ambitions in the Champions League.

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