Antonio Conte has been confirmed as the brand new head coach of Napoli.
The enigmatic Italian is again in work simply over a yr after being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur and returns to work in his homeland for the primary time since 2021, when he left Inter after successful their first Serie A title in 11 years.
Conte was linked, if solely tentatively, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Milan and former membership Chelsea, however has now accomplished a return to administration with Napoli.
“Napoli is a spot of worldwide significance. I’m pleased and excited on the thought of sitting on the blue bench. I can actually promise one factor: I’ll do my utmost for the expansion of the group and the membership. My dedication, along with that of my workers, it is going to be complete,” Conte stated in an announcement.
After successful their first Scudetto in 23 years below the steering of Luciano Spalletti in 2023 earlier than he left for the Italy job, Napoli cycled by way of three managers the next season and completed a lowly tenth in Serie A.
They’ve now turned to Conte, who’s becoming a member of the seventh Italian membership of his managerial profession, to assist revive their fortunes.
Conte will look to rebuild his repute having left Spurs in March 2023 on a bitter observe. Following a surprisingly limp Champions League exit by the hands of Milan and staggering 3-3 draw in opposition to relegation-bound Southampton, Conte unleashed a livid tirade at his gamers and Tottenham’s house owners.
“We’re 11 gamers that go into the pitch. I see egocentric gamers, I see gamers that do not wish to assist one another and do not put their coronary heart,” Conte stated instantly after Spurs’ draw at Southampton.
“Earlier than right this moment I favor to cover this case and to attempt to converse, to attempt to enhance the spirit, the state of affairs, with the phrases, with numerous conditions. As a result of about tactical or technical facet, that is one state of affairs. Crucial factor if you wish to change into a powerful group, if you wish to change into aggressive, if you wish to combat to win, is the need, the fireplace that it’s essential have in your eyes, in your coronary heart, and it’s a must to present this in each second. In each second.
“If I’ve to check final season and this season, we’ve got to enhance, however now we’re worse on this facet. When you find yourself not a group, something can occur, in any second. Right now is the final state of affairs. Do not forget that in FA Cup we misplaced to Sheffield United, who performed with younger gamers. We have been ready with a powerful group to be dropped from the FA Cup. After which numerous conditions, I repeat, that we aren’t going to enhance. And I’m not talking about tactical elements or technical elements.
“About being a group, being a group, being a group, it’s a very powerful factor. To know that we play for the badge. We’ve to play to make our followers pleased with us. We’ve to play to point out need. The fireplace in your eyes to win. When you’ve got this, for positive, you do not exit in FA Cup and right this moment you win.
“Perhaps beforehand within the different video games one thing can change. However right here we’re used to it for a very long time. The membership has the duty for the switch market, each coach that stayed right here has the duty. And the gamers? The gamers? The place are the gamers? In my expertise, I can inform you that if you wish to be aggressive, if you wish to combat, it’s a must to enhance this facet. And this facet, I can inform you, on this second is absolutely, actually low. And I see solely 11 gamers that play for themselves.
“You’re discovering an alibi, one other alibi. You attempt to discover an excuse for the gamers. OK, proceed to do that, to search out an excuse for the gamers. You do solely this! You do solely this. Excuses for the gamers. ‘However the gamers, perhaps, my future, then we misplaced confidence, they misplaced spirit, they misplaced being a group…’ Excuses. Excuses. Excuse. Attempt to defend them each time.
“Come on, come on, come on. We’re skilled. The membership pay us some huge cash. The gamers obtain cash, me obtain cash, you perceive? To not discover excuse or not present spirit or present a way of belonging or do not present a way of duty as a result of we’re exhibiting this. For me that is unacceptable as a result of for me that is the primary time in my profession to see a state of affairs like this. Till now I wasn’t in a position to change, to not change however examine to final season the state of affairs went to change into worse.
“Why [is this happening]? As a result of they’re used to it right here, they’re used to it. They do not play for one thing essential, yeah. They do not wish to play below stress, they do not wish to play below stress. It’s straightforward on this method. Tottenham’s story is that this. 20 years there may be the proprietor they usually by no means received one thing, however why? The fault is just for the membership, or for each supervisor that stays right here? I’ve seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You threat to disrupt the determine of the supervisor and to guard the opposite state of affairs in each second.
“Till now I attempt to cover the state of affairs however now no as a result of I repeat I do not wish to see what I’ve seen right this moment as a result of that is unacceptable and likewise unacceptable for the followers. They observe us, pay the ticket and to see the group one other time to have this kind of efficiency is unacceptable. We’ve to suppose so much about this.”
