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Tag: Conte

  • Eyes on Conte as Napoli begin title defence

    Eyes on Conte as Napoli begin title defence

    Napoli travel to Sassuolo this afternoon  for their opening game of the 2025-26 Serie A season, with Antonio Conte’s side eager to defend their Scudetto title.

    Speaking to the press ahead of today’s match, Conte discussed several topics, including the injury suffered by Romelu Lukaku, Napoli’s place as favourites and his club’s summer transfer market.

    With quotes taken via the Corriere dello Sport, Conte kicked off the conference by discussing Lukaku’s injury: “It is a significant injury for a player who had a specific importance for the team. We know full well that situations like this can arise throughout the year. Something similar happened last year too and I am not just talking about injuries but also the transfer market.

     “The lads showed last year that they can cope with anything. We must not complain but instead find solutions. I haven’t even spoken to the lads about it because injuries are part of the game. Now we need to work to make our players shine.”

    Read Also: Ideye slams Napoli’s controversial clause in Osimhen to  Gala

    Conte’s Napoli won the Scudetto last season, narrowly pipping Inter to the title on the final day of the season. Much of the Neapolitan side remains the same, with no star player sales aside from Victor Osimhen, who was already not involved in the squad during the 2024-25 campaign.

    Talking about his squad, Conte said: “This group does not need to repeat the work they did last year. We are talking about responsible guys who want to work hard and improve day after day. What I have highlighted is historic, because Napoli have never won two consecutive Scudetti. Let’s remember that Napoli finished tenth in the season before last, having only sold Kim; that must be clear. We must win and lose together. It will be a tough championship with many well-equipped teams and our job will be to do our best.

  • BREAKING: Napoli appoint Conte as new manager

    BREAKING: Napoli appoint Conte as new manager

    Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has been appointed the new boss of Napoli on a three-year deal.

    The 54-year-old has not managed since he left Spurs by mutual consent in March 2023 after 16 months in charge.

    Despite a disappointing time in North London, Conte has had a decorated coaching career after winning the Premier League in his first season at Chelsea (2016-17) and the FA Cup in his second before being sacked in 2018.

    Read Also: Osimhen doubtful for Napoli clash with  Fiorentina

    “Napoli is a place of global importance. I am happy and excited at the idea of ​​sitting on the blue bench,” Conte said.

    “I can certainly promise one thing, I will do my utmost for the growth of the team and the club. My commitment, together with that of my staff, it will be total.”

  • Chelsea sack Conte

    Chelsea have sacked Italian Antonio Conte as its manager.

    Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Wednesday that the Premier League side were close to securing a deal for former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri to replace Conte.

    More to Follow:

  • Moses set to return against Bournemouth

    Moses set to return against Bournemouth

     

    Injury sidelined Super Eagles forward Victor Moses is in line to return for Chelsea against Bournemouth on Saturday, a tie that manager Antonio Conte believes will be a “great challenge” for the Premier League leaders.

    A calf injury kept Moses out of the shock 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last Saturday and the 2-1 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

    Conte experimented with Pedro at the right wing-back position against Palace before moving Cesar Azpilicueta into the role for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s men, with Kurt Zouma returning to the centre of the defence.

    And, although he hopes to have Moses fully fit for the match at Vitality Stadium, Conte has praised his squad for ensuring that the loss of regular members of the starting line-up has not been damaging to their title charge.

    Asked about Moses’ fitness, Conte told a news conference: “He trained with us. I have to check his situation and then make the best decision for the team. But he is available.

    “Victor Moses showed this season that he is an important player for us, but in the games against Crystal Palace and City we showed that we can play without him.

    “We are a team, not 11 single players. If you think you can win a game with only one player, you are in trouble, because if you miss this player then it’s impossible to win.

    “I’m pleased when this happens because it means every single player is into our football. During the training sessions, I have 20 players and I train them in the same way, because I know that anything can happen during the season and you must have players available.

  • Conte targets Toljan to challenge Moses

    Conte targets Toljan to challenge Moses

    Chelsea have targeted Hoffenheim wing-back Jeremy Toljan to challenge Victor Moses, 26, writes the Daily Express.

    The Germany U-23 international has been scouted by The Blues manager Antonio Conte ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.

    Chelsea face competition for the services of Toljan, with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Napoli monitoring his situation at the German Bundesliga side.

    The 22-year-old will enter the final 12 months of his contract with Hoffenheim in the summer, and the club may cash in, in the next few months or lose him for nothing at the end of the 2017-18 season.

    Victor Moses ended speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona after signing a two-year contract extension with the Stamford Bridge outfit at the start of this month.

  • Balotelli omission not´a message´—Conte

    Italy coach Antonio Conte insists he was not trying to send a message to Mario Balotelli by omitting the striker from his first squad.

    The Liverpool new boy was the most notable absentee from Conte’s selection for forthcoming fixtures against the Netherlands and Norway.

    But Conte says he had no motive to leave Balotelli out of his plans, stressing players must earn the right to represent Italy.

    “We have been monitoring every match,” he said. “The call-ups are based on those we observed, with those we had footballing evidence on.

    “Is it a message? I do not have to send any messages. Those who know me know how I work – I do not present gifts to anyone.

    “Today I have here 26 guys and I have told them that they must earn this shirt. I will behave as I have always done, there is no pre-condition for anyone.

    “Those who are in the national team should know what it takes to be here and be conscious of the weight of this shirt, its importance.”

    Conte, who took over from Cesare Prandelli following the World Cup, also expressed his pride at leading his first training session on Monday.

    “This is definitely a special day,” he added. “I entered Coverciano [Italy’s national training centre] for the first time with the Under-15s side and to come back now as a coach is beautiful.

    “This is a centre that makes me shudder, it takes me back 30 years. It is something nice.

    “It is a formative experience, a competition with myself and I am sure that I will be able to communicate my concepts.”