Napoli-Genoa, Conte on the win: “The substitutions made the difference” | OneFootball

After the comeback victory for 2-1 against Genoa, Antonio Conte spoke in the press room of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to analyze the match and answer journalists' questions. The Neapolitan team, trailing by a goal in the first half, overturned the result in the second half thanks to greater intensity and some decisive choices from the substitutions.

Napoli, Conte in the press conference: “To achieve important things and have competitive championships, you always need balance”

The coach clarified the players’ conditions and the team’s role during the match: “It bothers me when you focus on a single player, and it’s not fair to the others. Neither when you criticize them, nor when you praise them. I talk about balance, because you need to find it, I understand that in Naples it’s difficult. I always talk about the team and not individuals. In the first half we struggled because we didn’t exploit our superiority on the flanks. Their goal on the counter hurt us. In the second half, the team showed that it doesn’t give in against a team that last year almost cost us the title. Credit to them. In the second half, there was only one team pushing until the end, despite Wednesday’s match. In the second half there was new energy, we need to manage this situation, the boys know it. We also need to manage it at the start, but I understand that if you don’t win, you’re considered donkeys. Politano had some fatigue, Lobotka opened up and had a bit of pain in the pubic area. Will he go to the national team? There are doctors who examine you, and if you’re not fit, they send you home. Let’s hope he’s fit.”

Conte also commented on the double formation used: “We have two established situations, one is with four midfielders but you need a particular player. The other is the 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1. With four midfielders we have more possession and control, in the 4-3-3 we look for solutions to isolate the wingers one-on-one. In the first half we weren’t good and Genoa stopped us.” On yet another goal conceded, Conte added: “To achieve important things and have competitive championships, you always need balance in both phases. Against Sporting, it was a shame about the goal we conceded given the few chances allowed, like today with Vanja who didn’t have to perform miracles. It’s more important to stay high and not drop back and give goal chances to the opponents. Napoli as champions of Italy must play as protagonists.”

Finally, on the first half performance and the substitutions made: “It wasn’t a bad performance in the first half, but we didn’t fill the box well or manage to be dangerous. At halftime I told the boys something tactical, we had to attack their high line and we did it. Even before the changes, the entry of De Bruyne and Spinazzola, we had already created something. It’s up to me and the staff to make the boys understand certain situations. In the second half, we attacked their high line very well.”

Andrea Alati

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