Napoli manager Antonio Conte emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s improvement rather than their position in the Serie A standings after a narrow 1-0 victory over AS Roma on Sunday restored them to the top of the league.
The win came courtesy of a second-half tap-in from Romelu Lukaku, helping Napoli recover from recent setbacks, including a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan and a 3-0 home loss to Atalanta. However, Conte insisted that reclaiming the top spot wasn’t a priority in their match preparation.
“I told the team before the match not to focus on the table but to concentrate on improving what we’ve been working on,” Conte said. “We need to take steps to raise our level, and that remains our focus.”
Challenging Opposition
Conte acknowledged that Roma, playing under newly appointed coach Claudio Ranieri, posed a significant challenge with their strong set-piece play and determination to impress.
“I was pleased with our performance for the first 65 minutes. We created chances and managed the game well against a strong Roma side with quality players,” he explained. “However, in the final 15-20 minutes, we sat too deep and made things harder for ourselves. That’s something we need to address.”
Kvaratskhelia Substitution
Napoli’s Georgian midfielder, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, was substituted late in the game, visibly frustrated as he left the pitch. Conte clarified that the decision was precautionary.
“He returned from international duty with some adductor issues and hasn’t been training fully,” Conte said. “Khvicha did his job in the first half, but after we scored, I decided to bring on fresh legs to avoid risking a muscular injury.”
Conte remains focused on building consistency and improving his team’s performance as Napoli aims to maintain their position at the top of Serie A while addressing areas that need development.
