Kevin De Bruyne on the field only for a'hour: Antonio Conte makes it clear

Napoli did not go beyond the 0-0 on the field of Como, putting even more into question the already almost compromised run-up to the leading Inter (already at +9, a draw at San Siro against Parma in Sunday’s match is enough for the Scudetto) and indeed making the conquest of second place even more complicated. That, in fact, is already attackable by Milan, which could join the Azzurri in case of a victory on Sunday on the field of Sassuolo. However, it was Kevin De Bruyne’s presence on the pitch at the Sinigaglia stadium, who was substituted after just an hour of play, that caused discussion. A decision on which in the aftermath of the match Antonio Conte himself decided to clarify.

“In seven days nothing has changed, De Bruyne is as he was in the last game,” Conte said to the microphones of ‘DAZN’. “Let’s remember that against Cremonese, in addition to playing great, he had also scored. Then there are games in which it is possible to get excited, while in others you cannot do as well. Even today against Como, however, Kevin did his part for Napoli. His was a very tidy performance. At one point I simply decided to move McTominay to the three-quarter by bringing in Anguissa in the midfield.”

The Sinigaglia match saw Como play the game with more conviction, coming close to taking the lead on several occasions. As early as 8′ Douvikas had a great chance on an assist from Nico Paz, with the shot rejected on the line by Rrahmani with Milinkovic-Savic already beaten. Even more sensational was the double chance missed by Diao: first on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper in 31′, then a header in 60′, sending the ball over the crossbar. Napoli, however, resisted and even came close in the final: in the 80′ McTominay sent shivers down Butez’s spine by finishing just wide, while in the 85′ Politano hit the post. A draw that nonetheless earned the Azzurri the mathematical certainty of Champions League qualification, with the Parthenopean club now on 70 points.

On the De Bruyne front, the Belgian remains a staple of the Napoli project, however. His contract expires in June 2027 and there seem to be no intentions to terminate the relationship early, regardless of what Conte’s future decisions will be in the summer. Moreover, the fantasist has reached a prestigious personal goal in the Azzurri shirt: the wall of 100 goals in the five major European leagues, a goal achieved precisely in Serie A despite the fact that his first season in the shadow of Vesuvius was anything but easy for him.

Meanwhile, the future of the Azzurri bench is also holding court. Conte himself, in mid-March, had opened to a reflection on his own future at the end of the season: “When I arrived in Naples I signed a three-year contract. It is normal that, at the end of each season, we sit down with the president to confront each other with serenity, make assessments and understand together which direction to take. In Naples I am well and comfortable, but it is right to stop and evaluate whether the path taken is the right one to continue. On my part there is great willingness and the will to continue this path.” Words that leave open any possibility, waiting for the confrontation with President De Laurentiis at the end of the championship.

On the market front, the Neapolitan leadership is working to armor one of its most important men: Scott McTominay. The Scottish midfielder, already in double figures in goals in the league, is considered an indispensable pillar of the technical project, and Ds Giovanni Manna is working to extend his contract – currently expiring in 2028 – until 2029 or even 2030, with a salary adjustment. “Scott is an important footballer, he is happy to be in Naples, I think he shows it when he plays and when he lives the city. We are talking, we have an extremely clear and frank relationship with him,” Manna himself had said in mid-March. McTominay himself, in the Sinigaglia finale, was one of the most dangerous, confirming once again that he is an indispensable element for Conte.