Roma-Napoli, Conte: "Complicated match. The market? Kvara's replacement still missing"

Naples, February 1, 2025 - The seventh win in a row It arrived thanks to the most coveted 'scalp', the one against a Juventus who had not yet lost until the last round of the championship: the next test for the Napoli top of the list is perhaps even more complicated, because Sunday February 2 20.45 to further secure the leadership, it will be necessary to conquer theOlympic of a rediscovered Rome. He thinks so too Antonio Conte, who in the usual pre-match press conference, despite the excellent mood of the fans, did not spare criticism of the club and the market conducted so far.  

Market problem

 The chat in front of microphones and notebooks of the Italian coach starts precisely from what he considers the most painful notes. "Those who know me know very well that I do not isolate myself, that I actively participate in all the company's problems to try to solve the problems in a constructive way. Given my experience, I try to be an active part to give my opinion and try to eliminate the criticality, without adding others. There is in fact a substantial difference between solving the problem and removing it: if you just postpone it, in football then sooner or later it will come back again". The tirade of Tale it seems vague: yes, it seems so, because then the references to the market and in particular to the sale of Khvisha Kvaratskhelia they are becoming more and more direct. "I said that the market should have given me back a team at the same level. Instead, it is clear that we have lost an important player who has not yet been replaced. It's all good, but we must not throw smoke in our eyes. The club has cashed in 70-75 million and has replaced all other releases so far, but not that of Fourth. No one can say for sure whether we have weakened or strengthened, but he is objectively a champion who has made the fortune of this team. We have been without him for several games and this gives even more credit to the great work of the boys, who have collected 53 points, the same as last year. Seeing them work – continues Tale – it fills me with joy because they want to grow and even if we are few in number also due to some injuries, I receive maximum availability from them. In these moments I have to look at what I have at home, not what I don't have".

The messages from the Italian coach are clear: the first is an invitation to the club to replace kvaratskhelia and the second is a eulogy to those who remained and who tomorrow will have to deal with a Rome dangerous return. "Their squad has absolute values ​​both in the starters and in the substitutes. Compared to when we faced them two months ago, they have become more of a team and their progress shows it, especially at home, where between the championship and Europa League won 7 games in a row, realizing 23 goal and only suffering from it 3. It is a testimony to their strength but also to that of the Olimpico, a stadium that like ours knows how to drag. We prepared it in the right way, with the awareness that they also arrived ahead of us a year ago".

The pitfalls of Rome

It's difficult to find moles in Napoli leader: perhaps there is one and it is the poor effectiveness in the restarts, with just 8 on the report, for the worst data in Serie A that tomorrow night will clash with a team that instead makes this fundamental one of its strengths. "We will have to be very careful when attacking and, paradoxically, in the presence of some players we will have to be pessimistic and already think that we can lose that ball and their subsequent counterattack. We will do everything to play a good game, carrying forward what we have been advocating since the beginning of the championship, but it will not be easy because they have great finishers from the edge and also quality players in tight spaces".

The hot topic is the transfer market again, with the lack of the so-called bang (so far) that according to many could definitively inflame the fight for the Scudetto in favour of the Napoli. "We need to wait until the end of the session before drawing conclusions. It makes little difference to me: I am prepared in one sense or another and I think it should be that way, because this is a ship sailing and not stuck in port. I have always said that it is up to the club to make decisions and that I, if I can, have my say. However, I am aware that our market will never be at the same level as that of the big clubs in terms of economic parameters, salaries and the will of the players to be convinced and respected. I cannot raise my voice on this. I can only say keep your head down and pedal, without complaining and being unconstructive: you just have to bring the ship to port in the best possible conditions".

Tale has clear ideas, just as he had them in the past few days, granting the team three days off. "The players earned them and then, without going into too much detail, they resumed with a double training session, proving that I don't give gifts". In short, the method Tale it's also this, with the purpose to keep a group together in which even the second lines play their part. "There is the will to continue to grow even on the part of those who, perhaps, seeing the field less, could be tempted to go elsewhere. Luckily the market is about to end and the good thing is that we are all aligned and focused. We all have to bring out the best and continue to live this path that can give them a lot of satisfaction. In this sense, I see many improvements also in terms of mentality and sense of belonging and the best answers are being given to me precisely by those players who play less".