Napoli, Neres and Lang: Conte’s secret weapons for a new era | OneFootball

Antonio Conte and the paradox of the "short squad": while the coach insists, two unexpected protagonists emerge

Napoli, Neres and Lang, Conte's secret weapon: from surplus to the engine of the new Napoli

Antonio Conte continues to reiterate in press conferences that Napoli has a limited squad, a team that, according to his interpretation, does not offer him real rotation options. Yet, in the last two outings between the league and the Champions League, the scenario has been overturned by two players who had so far remained almost on the sidelines: David Neres and Noa Lang.

Their recent breakthrough has not only restored unpredictability to the offensive system but has also, at least partially, disproved the narrative of the "short blanket." While waiting for the return of key injured players and for alternatives to multiply again, Conte has found two resources that are currently offering him more than perhaps he himself expected.

The Gazzetta's take: Conte chooses continuity, Neres and Lang change the face of Napoli

Arianna Ravelli, in the Gazzetta dello Sport, highlights how Conte has adopted a strategy opposite to his predecessor: “Conte makes the opposite choice: he starts with ten of the eleven starters who began against Atalanta. Not only that: once again, the decision-maker is the usual McTominay.”

The victory over Qarabag, on a symbolically challenging evening, confirms that Napoli has acquired a more solid and at the same time less predictable identity. This is where the two wingers emerge: Neres and Lang. Two profiles that, until a few weeks ago, seemed on the fringes of the technical project.

According to Ravelli, the novelty lies especially in the way the two have continuously sought each other and exchanged positions: “The protagonists are the two wingers, Neres and Lang, whom the coach has seen very little of so far. On the field, they exchange and, above all, communicate a lot.”

Their understanding is not coincidental: the two are friends off the field as well, a detail that is becoming a tactical factor.

The emerging duo: “Nereselang,” the hybrid reshaping Napoli's attack

Neres and Lang were long considered surplus, elements to recover or place. Today they have become the creative hub of the new Napoli. With Atalanta and Qarabag, they highlighted a characteristic that had been missing: the ability to open up opposing defenses with continuous bursts, internal accelerations, and inverted foot cuts.

The Gazzetta emphasizes it strongly: “From surplus to defense-breakers. It's the madness of football that rehabilitates everything in a hundred minutes.”

Against Qarabag, Neres showcased his best version: vertical dribbling, an acrobatic move close to scoring, and a lob that grazed the crossbar. Lang, for his part, interpreted the wing as a dynamic territory, cutting inside and forcing opponents into systematic fouls.

This is how a duo has been born, transforming into a brand: Nereselang. A name that synthesizes a technical, emotional, and – now – even narrative understanding.

The duo's limitation: the relationship with Hojlund and the significant absence of De Bruyne

Despite the plays of the two wingers, an important fact emerges: their dialogue with Hojlund is still minimal. The Dane often remains isolated, far from supply.

The Gazzetta is clear: “Neres and Lang sought each other, but did not communicate with Hojlund, somewhat left out: he misses De Bruyne.”

The problem is not new: Napoli produces quantity but not always quality in the final pass. De Bruyne is the player who should have filled that gap, and his absence continues to weigh heavily.

The consequence is an attack that lives on individual plays but could potentially become much more complete with the return of the Belgian.

The "odd couple" on and off the field: an understanding born from personality

The Neres-Lang duo works also because their opposite characters complement each other.

Vincenzo D’Angelo, also in the Gazzetta, describes their relationship as follows: “A total understanding that goes beyond the field. A quiet and reserved Brazilian. An exuberant Dutchman, full of tattoos, in love with music and rap. Two distant worlds that complete each other.”

Their bond is evident even on social media, with shared photos and continuous interactions. And it is an emotional capital that Conte is beginning to leverage.

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