Spalletti congratulates Napoli and Conte, but sees Inter ‘advantage’

epa11713791 Inter Milan’s coach Simone Inzaghi gestures during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

Luciano Spalletti congratulates Napoli and Antonio Conte but feels Inter have ‘an advantage’ in the race for the title.

Napoli host Inter at the Stadio Maradona on Sunday in a key game for the Serie A title race.

The Nerazzurri have leapfrogged the Partenopei at the top of the table and enjoy a one-point lead on Conte’s men.

“The Italian league is always important, always maintaining a high level,” Spalletti told reporters on Monday, as quoted by TMW.

“There is no decline in quality. I always see new things. It may seem like many teams are performing below their usual level, but that is also due to the difficulty of playing against mid-table teams. It’s always challenging.

“Napoli are having an exceptional season. Personally, I want to congratulate Conte not only for the points and victories but also for how his team plays,” continued Spalletti.

“Napoli know what they want and understands how to position themselves on the field. Along with Atalanta and Inter, Napoli will be fighting until the very end, and if a few more slip-ups occur, another team could still enter the race.”

Spalletti congratulates Napoli and Conte, but sees Inter’ advantage’

Speaking about the upcoming meet at the Maradona, Spalletti said: “It will be a great duel, an exciting clash. It could be very important for the standings and the progression of the season.

“I don’t think Inter have reached their full potential yet, and since they have such a high level of quality, I believe they could unleash it at any moment.

“Napoli have played some extraordinary matches, apart from a few moments where they couldn’t secure the result. Conte has instilled incredible strength in them and you can see the work on the field.

“When they lose possession, they all drop back. They immediately apply man-to-man marking, and they have dribbling skills and shots from the edge of the area. Inter’s history gives them an advantage in these kinds of matches, but Napoli are also a very strong team.”

During the same meeting, Spalletti discussed the state of Italian football and admitted that Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui could start together in the Azzurri’s attack in the future.