Naples, double mistake and substitution for Buongiorno: Conte doesn’t hide

Antonio Conte is refreshed by his Napoli’s victory at Marassi against Genoa, but he certainly did not completely regain his composure. The Azzurri managed to snatch the three points only as time expired, after going into a disadvantage and later caught up by the Grifone. In both cases decisive in the negative was Alessandro Buongiorno, replaced by his coach after the second mistake, and indirectly mentioned even in the aftermath of the match at the Ferraris stadium. Inevitable, then, the reference to the many absentees due to injury.

Marco Enzo Venturini

“Tonight we did everything. There’s little to add – said Conte in the press conference -. We entered the field, after 30 seconds we took penalty for an injury, going under against a strong team on a technical, tactical and quality level. Then, after Napoli took over the game and overturned the result, another injury of ours caused the new equalizer. A situation that could have killed us sportingly, which is why I consider it a victory of the highest value”.

Another setback for Napoli was the expulsion of Juan Jesus, but in that case the team&#8217s response pleased Conte. “Staying in ten men could have destabilized us once and for all – noted the Salento coach – Instead we were very good and orderly, never stopping thinking about the fact that we wanted to score. In fact, even in numerical inferiority we missed with Gutierrez a sensational goal. Then we managed to win with a penalty, in a field like Marassi that is always very complicated to conquer”.

Chapter injured, which has meanwhile been enriched with Scott McTominay. “He has been living with a tendon problem since the beginning of the season – explained Conte. He had given me full availability in the second half, but I would rather have him 100 percent than risk him. I hope he can recover by Tuesday, because Napoli has a quarterfinal in the Coppa Italia that we have to face with 11 players”.

“Gilmour has recovered from the’operation, but he still has some discomfort. Then Di Lorenzo is also missing, an important absence in quality, but also in personality and charisma. Also for this reason I find great the response that Napoli gave tonight against Genoa. We are doing incredible things, which people underestimate”, Conte concluded.