Conte: I Trust Napoli’s Strength Despite Absences

Antonio Conte, coach of Napoli, expressed his confidence in his team’s collective strength despite the absences of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano for their upcoming match against Fiorentina on Saturday in Serie A.

The two wingers, Kvaratskhelia and Politano, will miss the match due to muscle fatigue, adding to the team’s injury woes as defender Alessandro Bongiorno has also been sidelined for several weeks with a back injury.

Conte, whose team shares the league leadership with Atalanta, told reporters on Friday: “It’s been a week with some setbacks. We have managed the absences well so far, and we will continue doing so. Unforeseen events, whether big or small, are part of the season for every team.”

He confirmed that the team’s collective effort had led Napoli to the top of the league.

“We’ve earned 41 points thanks to all the players. Every player has contributed, and that’s the most important thing. We shouldn’t rely on just one or two players.”

Conte praised Fiorentina’s performance and expressed high respect for their attacking football, which has propelled them to fifth in the standings.

“I always respect other teams, but we shouldn’t fear any team. We respect them because they play well, they have very good players, and they are the best team in fast breaks during matches. We need to respect them, but at the same time, we need to impose our style and keep improving.”

Conte also mentioned that he is still building the team for a long-term project. “We’re in a phase of building something. This requires time and patience. I’m proud of the players, their commitment, and their connection with this club.”