Conte: ‘Football is imponderable, big clubs used to Scudetto race, not like Napoli’

MONZA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Monza and Napoli at U-Power Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Antonio Conte focuses on the ‘imponderable’ as the Scudetto battle continues with a trip to Parma. ‘For the big clubs, a Scudetto won’t change your life, but at a place like Napoli, it is historic.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Tardini on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).

The Scudetto race was suddenly blown wide open again with a 2-2 home draw against Genoa, allowing Inter to close the gap at the top of the table to just one point with two rounds to be played.

If the teams finish tied in first place, the title must be decided by a single match play-off, so is the atmosphere tense or normal?

“Well it’s not normality, we are reaching the end of the season and are fortunate enough to be challenging for something truly important,” said Conte in his press conference.

“We cannot define this a normal end to the campaign, as the objective was certainly not in our minds when we started. We achieved more than one of our targets, the most important being to get into the Coppa Campioni, ahead of some teams who last season were 15 points clear of Napoli, never mind Inter at 41 points clear. The other was to trouble those at the top, now we need to see how much trouble we can give them.

“This is pressure and stress that we earned. Only someone who has never won anything can think there is no passion at these moments. There’s a bit of everything and we need to control it.”

Napoli tension palpable for Conte

Conte has won many times in different clubs and even countries, so is he worried?

“I wouldn’t call it that. You prepare for everything, but there is the imponderable moment, the Genoa defender who intercepts and runs forward without any real reason, goes into our penalty area and nods in a cross. There are these imponderable elements, both positive and negative, in football.

“The draw with Genoa was frustrating, because we dominated that match. I saw some comments that left me perplexed, maybe they didn’t watch the game. It can happen, just look at Manchester City drawing 0-0 against a Southampton side that got relegated ages ago. Football is not mathematical equations, there is the imponderable aspect.”

Conte doubles down on underdog status

Napoli won the Scudetto with Luciano Spalletti in 2023, then finished 10th in 2024, but Conte keeps the focus on their underdog status.

“The players know that they are challenging for an objective that could not have been predicted, unlike the big clubs,” said the former Inter and Juventus coach.

“For the big clubs, a Scudetto won’t change your life, but at a place like Napoli, it is historic. Just remember that until two years ago, they hadn’t won it for 30 years, since the age of Maradona. That makes the difference, being accustomed to experiencing these situations.

“If you’re not accustomed to it, everything around you becomes anxious, full of tension, and we must try to balance that. The lads know what it means to win here, we all saw what happened two years ago. These events don’t happen often and if you do, then you’re fortunate enough to remain in the history of this city.”

Along with losing Stanislav Lobotka to an ankle injury, there are now reports Scott McTominay is not fully fit either for the trip to a Parma side who aren’t yet sure of Serie A safety.

“McTominay had a few problems, more than one, but as always we will find a solution,” noted Conte.

“David Neres has recovered, but was out for 50 days, so he certainly isn’t fit to start. Parma are trying to stay in Serie A, so they’ll fight tooth and nail.”