Antonio Conte feels throughout an damage disaster is ‘extraordinary,’ however whereas they have to be ‘sensible,’ this staff nonetheless ‘needs to defend the Scudetto to the tip.’
This was an enormous showdown for second place and the chance to maintain up the strain on leaders Inter, and it actually didn’t begin in the easiest way for the Partenopei.
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Rasmus Hojlund got here down with a abdomen bug in a single day and was dominated out of the squad, so with Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani injured, Conte needed to give January signing Giovane his first begin as a makeshift centre-forward.
It was a substitute who determined the match, Matteo Politano volleying in a poor Koni De Winter clearance on the again put up on the 79th minute.
Conte thanks decimated Napoli
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Massimiliano Allegri AC Milan greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach earlier than the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
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“This victory offers us an excessive amount of enthusiasm and confidence, as a result of we should always remember that if we’re up there in second place, it’s because of these lads who lined for all of the absences we handled this season,”
“Hojlund was lacking at this time, however we haven’t had Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Neres and Vergara for some time both, in order that’s 5 gamers who’re nearly all common starters. It’s extraordinary that the staff has stayed up there regardless of these absences.
“Every other facet would’ve fallen aside and misplaced its struggle. I consider Elmas, who got here on for the ultimate quarter-hour, he was a key participant throughout the many absences. Mazzocchi, Beukema, they have been protagonists over the season.
“That was extraordinary, not what we noticed this night. It’s inevitable that the extra gamers we get match, the extra now we have selections and the extra we will rotate to maintain everybody contemporary.”
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: SSC Napoli staff pose earlier than the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
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The information solely began to filter by means of within the afternoon that Hojlund not solely won’t be within the beginning XI, however wasn’t even prepared for a spot on the bench.
“This morning the physician greeted me with this marvellous information that Hojlund had a fever and was vomiting, so I needed to change plans, Giovane gave a superb response,” defined Conte.
“I’m keen throughout a second of pleasure now that we’re in second place to thank these lads who stepped up throughout a tragic sporting state of affairs that might’ve ended badly. They gave a fantastic response, we’re beginning to get gamers again, Rrahmani and Giovanni are on observe. We hope Neres and Vergara can get well earlier than the tip of the season.”
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Matteo Politano of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the opening purpose throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
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Politano was partly on the bench as a result of he was concerned in Italy’s failed World Cup play-off marketing campaign, beginning in opposition to each Northern Eire and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I used to be joking with Politano at this time that I had predicted he’d come on and make the distinction when Milan have been extra drained, in an space of the pitch the place they’d assault us extra,” revealed Conte.
“I’m very glad for Matteo, who scored his second purpose of the season. Alisson Santos was essential too as an alternative.”
This consequence means Napoli leapfrog Milan into second place and are seven factors behind leaders Inter, who crushed Roma 5-2 final evening.
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“Now now we have to maintain going, as a result of there are seven rounds to go and we took an essential step in the direction of the Champions League, which is our goal,” added Conte.
“If Milan can say the Champions League is their goal, why shouldn’t it’s Napoli’s? Juventus say the identical too, Napoli gained the Supercoppa, however folks appear to anticipate much more from us than these golf equipment.
“Now we should attempt to keep up there and defend this place. We all know Inter need to be first within the desk, we’re there, and should concentrate on ourselves.”
NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach reacts throughout the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures)
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Extra may be anticipated as a result of Napoli are the reigning Champions of Italy and gained two of the final three Serie A titles, even when each instances their coaches tried to depict them as sporting miracles.
How a lot does Conte consider in the potential of a second consecutive Napoli Scudetto?
“We’ve bought to be sensible right here. We would want to not make a single mistake, and on the identical time hope that Inter slip up greater than as soon as. Seeing what Inter have accomplished thus far, that appears unbelievable. They’re a really sturdy squad, they deserve all they’re doing, and we should attempt to simply preserve our foot on the fuel.
“We need to defend the Scudetto to the very finish, which we hadn’t been capable of do for a lot of months, however now we’ve been capable of take again management of our historical past, our future, and we need to preserve going, with out making proclamations.
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“The Champions League spot nonetheless must be locked down, and it’s in no way achieved but. That actually is a elementary goal, as a result of everybody is aware of the monetary advantages that brings,” concluded Conte.