Conte: ‘Important step towards Napoli Scudetto, but I’ve lost on final day’

LECCE, ITALY – MAY 03: Head coach of Napoli Antonio Conte during the Serie A match between Lecce and Napoli at Stadio Via del Mare on May 03, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Antonio Conte admits the victory away to Lecce was ‘an important step towards the Scudetto’ for Napoli, but warns he ‘won and lost titles on the final day’ before.

It was a very tough match at the Stadio Via del Mare, in Conte’s hometown of Lecce although the local fans have hated him for years after he represented their bitter local rivals Bari.

The game was decided by a routine straight off the training ground, Scott McTominay running to the end of the Lecce wall and ducking to allow the Giacomo Raspadori free kick through, therefore unsighting the goalkeeper.

This result means Napoli need only seven points from the remaining three rounds to mathematically secure the Scudetto, and that is assuming Inter win every game too.

Conte confession on Scudetto chances

“I don’t need to lie, this was an important step towards the Scudetto,” Conte told DAZN, finally shaking off the months of denials they were in the running for the title.

“It is an important step, even if not the most important. I was afraid of Lecce on their own turf, as they are battling against relegation, while we arrived here dealing with an emergency situation.”

There was some bad news when Stanislav Lobotka limped off following a knock to the ankle, although he had tried to play on at the start of the second half.

“I hope that Lobotka can recover for the next game, because we continue to fall apart here. We don’t have Neres, Buongiorno, Juan Jesus…”

With Alessandro Buongiorno, Juan Jesus and David Neres out injured, Conte had moved to a 4-4-2 formation with Raspadori upfront and Matias Olivera as a makeshift centre-back.

“People seemed to act like this was all normal, but Olivera played for the first time with me as a central defender,” insisted the coach.

“This is a team that is responding with everyone, as even Simone Scuffet did well against Bologna.”

It is still concerning for Napoli’s transfer strategy that central defender Rafa Marin was left on the bench throughout, with Conte preferring left-back Olivera there instead.

Napoli coach makes strong statement

Conte was asked why he seemed to be so angry at the final whistle, storming off down the tunnel.

“The difference between a draw and a win today was life-changing,” he insisted.

“I ended the game stressed out, not angry.”

Now that Napoli are on the verge of this triumph, it would mean Conte winning the Serie A title at three different clubs. Is this his masterpiece?

“I’ll say it if and when it happens, because I have both won and lost titles on the final day. Those who win write the history books. The others can only read them.”