Conte: ‘Napoli have total belief’ after another big victory

epa11852896 Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs Juventus Football Club at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 25 January 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Antonio Conte admits beating Atalanta and Juventus in back-to-back thrillers gives Napoli ‘self-confidence’ in the Scudetto race. ‘The lads have total belief in what we are doing.’

Juve had taken the lead just before half-time through debutant Randal Kolo Muani, but the hosts came out fighting after the break, turning it around through an Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa header and Romelu Lukaku penalty.

“It was a great performance against a great team that was unbeaten and who have an excellent squad at their disposal, are continuing to strengthen themselves in the January window,” Conte told DAZN.

“This has to give us great satisfaction, it proves that hard work pays off and that even when losing players at the last minute, with Olivera’s calf injury yesterday, we can still cover the gaps with our hard work and strength of character. I want to underline that, as we are working so hard, I am fortunate to have lads I have absolute faith in and it shows.”

It was another real show of character from the Partenopei after last week’s 3-2 thriller away to Atalanta.

“Winning back-to-back against Atalanta and Juventus just boosts our self-confidence, because we had to deal with situations that could’ve been a killer blow to anyone, but we managed to avoid feeling sorry for ourselves,” continued Conte.

This was a reference to Victor Osimhen and then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia demanding to leave Napoli.

Check the Player Ratings for Napoli 2-1 Juventus

Conte sees vast Napoli improvement

“At times I ask myself what this squad is missing, but a real leader has to evaluate what he has at his disposal and that is where I try to make the difference.

“The lads have total belief in what we are doing, if we read the statistics they’ll make us dizzy looking at what the same side did last season. Do not forget the massive gap there was between Napoli and teams like Juventus, Inter and Atalanta, whereas today we turned that situation around against those clubs who must always fight to win, because their history commands it.”

Juventus had been unbeaten in Serie A so far this season, but this result leaves them 16 points adrift of the leaders, who were already wildly celebrating last week on their return from Bergamo, complete with Conte on a megaphone from the team bus.

“Naples really carries you along on a wave of enthusiasm. If I hadn’t taken the megaphone in hand, we’d probably still be there in that crowd at the airport,” added the coach.

Napoli have 53 points, the same that Luciano Spalletti’s side had at this stage on their way to winning the title, but Conte feels their approach is underestimated.

“It was the minimum I could do, I had to thank them for all of that. In six months, there has been vast improvement and that was certainly not a gift from the Heavens. It was down to hard work.

“Elsewhere people comment as if they are always nicer and even sweet-smelling, but Napoli play a European style of football and I am fully satisfied.”