Serie A giants Napoli picked up a 1-0 win over Monza. While the win kept the Partenopei very much in the title race, things got a bit ugly with Antonio Conte.
The Italian has questioned Napoli’s ambitions and ability to compete at the highest level before the game. After the hard-fought win, he went on another one of his trademark rants.
He took shots at president Aurelio de Laurentiis and the press for making the most out of his words from before the game.
He said, via TMW: “Today we won and I am also happy with the fact that the team was always in the game, a synonym of great maturity. Many players are fighting for the first time for a head to head, a one to one that can unnerve and take away energy. But not physical energy, but mental.”
Speaking directly about his future without even being asked about it, he said: “For the rest I am fine in Naples, I have integrated very well with my family. There is sun, the food is great, the people are welcoming and the Neapolitan people move me. This is my private life. But I can’t stop there. I carry a responsibility with me, and you are the first to give it to me by saying that if Conte is there we will win.”
When talking about the responsibility that he carries for the club and the fans, the ex-Tottenham boss stated: “I can’t live on miracles and not on planning. I have respect and affection for the president.
“They asked me for a hand and I will give them a hand, but the Neapolitan fan wants to win and has this ambition. If he doesn’t win he also becomes bad. I have to calculate everything, I’m not stupid. I put a lot of pressure on myself but I also have to have the right weapons. Otherwise it’s a massacre and I don’t want to be massacred.”
He also revealed that talks with De Laurentiis will be held soon, saying: “We will sit down with the president to talk and we’ll see. The proceeds from the Champions League will arrive, the sale of Kvara has helped.
“I have paid everything back with interest, but now we will talk to the president clearly. Now we want to win together with my boys who are killing themselves with work. I have a great relationship with De Laurentiis, but I also need respect.”
As of now, Napoli are level on points with Inter in the table and Serie A is the only competition they’ve playing in. This can help them considering Inter’s schedule but Conte is clearly not happy with the squad at hand and how the club failed to effectively replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
