Conte Hails 'Extraordinary' Napoli Amid Injury Crisis, Vows Scudetto Fight

Antonio Conte lauded Napoli's "extraordinary" achievement of securing second place by defeating Milan, especially given their significant injury woes. While acknowledging the need for realism, he stated the team remains determined "to defend the Scudetto until the very end."

This crucial match for second position, offering a chance to maintain pressure on league leaders Inter, had a challenging start for the Partenopei.

The team faced further complications when Rasmus Hojlund was sidelined overnight with a stomach bug. This, combined with existing injuries to Romelu Lukaku, David Neres, Antonio Vergara, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, and Amir Rrahmani, forced Conte to hand January acquisition Giovane his debut start as an improvised centre-forward.

Ultimately, it was a substitute who proved decisive: Matteo Politano scored the winning goal in the 79th minute, volleying in a poorly cleared ball from Koni De Winter at the far post.

Conte Praises Injury-Hit Napoli

Speaking to DAZN Italia, Conte remarked, "This victory injects immense enthusiasm and confidence into us. We must always remember that our position in second place is a testament to these players who stepped up and covered for all the absences we've faced this season."

He continued, "Today Hojlund was out, but for some time we've also been without Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Neres, and Vergara – five players who are almost all regular starters. It's truly extraordinary that the team has maintained its high position despite these widespread absences. Most other teams would have crumbled and lost their competitive spirit. I recall Elmas, who played the final 15 minutes tonight; he was crucial during many of these absences. Players like Mazzocchi and Beukema have also been key contributors throughout the season. That resilience, not just tonight's performance, has been extraordinary. Naturally, as more players regain fitness, we'll have more options and the ability to rotate, keeping the squad fresh."

The severity of Hojlund's condition became apparent only in the afternoon, revealing he was unfit not just to start but even to be on the bench.

Conte elaborated, "This morning, the doctor delivered the 'marvellous' news that Hojlund had a fever and was vomiting, forcing me to alter our plans. Giovane, however, responded well."

"In this moment of joy, now that we're in second place, I'm keen to thank those players who stepped up during what could have been a disastrous sporting situation. They delivered an excellent response. We're starting to get players back, with Rrahmani and Giovanni on track. We hope Neres and Vergara can also recover before the season concludes."

Politano's presence on the bench was partly due to his involvement in Italy's unsuccessful World Cup play-off campaign, where he started against both Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Conte disclosed, "I was joking with Politano today, telling him I had predicted he would come on and make the difference when Milan grew tired, especially in an area of the pitch where they'd be attacking us more." He added, "I am very pleased for Matteo, who scored his second goal of the season. Alisson Santos also made a significant impact as a substitute."

This victory propelled Napoli past Milan into second place, now trailing leaders Inter by seven points after Inter's decisive 5-2 win over Roma last night.

Conte continued, "Now we must maintain our momentum, as there are seven rounds remaining, and we've taken a crucial step towards securing Champions League qualification, which is our primary objective. If Milan can aim for the Champions League, why shouldn't Napoli? Juventus expresses the same ambition. Napoli recently won the Supercoppa, yet there seems to be an expectation of even more from us compared to these other clubs. We must now strive to hold our position. We acknowledge Inter's deserved place at the top of the table; we are where we are and must concentrate on our own performance."

Higher expectations for Napoli are understandable, given they are the reigning Italian champions and have secured two of the last three Serie A titles, even if their previous coaches often framed these successes as sporting miracles.

How confident is Conte in Napoli's chances of winning a second consecutive Scudetto?

"We must be realistic," Conte stated. "We would need to perform flawlessly and simultaneously hope Inter makes multiple errors. Considering Inter's performance to date, this seems unlikely. They are a very strong squad and rightfully deserve their current success. We must simply maintain our intensity." He continued, "We aim to defend the Scudetto until the very end, something we hadn't been able to do for many months. But now, we've regained control of our narrative and destiny, and we want to continue pushing forward without making grand pronouncements. The Champions League spot is also not yet secured; it remains a fundamental objective due to the well-known financial advantages it provides."