Conte explains lack of Napoli rotations, Kvaratskhelia and Neres, plus Lecce return | OneFootball

Antonio Conte has spoken about the need to separate his personal and professional feelings as he returns to his hometown of Lecce with Napoli in Serie A on Saturday, while also discussing the latest from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s contract talks and the possibility of seeing him and David Neres on the pitch together.

The Partenopei coach conducted his customary pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon ahead of the trip to Lecce on Saturday.

Conte on Napoli starters, Lecce return and Inter-Juve

Napoli began with a similar sentiment to Inter coach Simone Inzaghi prior to his side’s recent Champions League win over Young Boys. Inzaghi made seven changes to his side, while Conte looks set to stick with a familiar line-up. Either way, both coaches have expressed a need for all of their players to feel like they are starters.

“I don’t like to talk about turnovers, they’re all starters for me,” Conte told the press. “I make choices based on what I see, maybe certain things that aren’t always seen by everyone else, even if you seem to know at least 85% of what goes on,” he laughed.

“I try to put the best team out in the formation that I think suits us best. It’s an important game against Lecce if we want to continue getting results. I still have tomorrow to make the final decisions and draw up my starting XI.”

Conte was also asked what he makes of two of his former sides, Inter and Juventus, ahead of Sunday’s Derby d’Italia.

He replied: “You know that I never go to watch other teams. I think about our game and that’s how it is for me, the team and the whole club. There is a game on that will help us to increase our point tally, which will be useful if we come into difficulty later down the line. We are only focussed on our own game.”

And on his potentially emotional return to Lecce, where Conte grew up and began his career as a player, he added: “There are feelings, but there is also professionalism as well. You have to separate those things.

“(Lecce) represents my origins, the dusty pitches, my father’s team, where I grew up and went through the ranks up to Serie A. It’s always held a special place in my heart. Nobody will take that away from me, but there’s still an opponent to take on.”

Conte weighs in on Kvaratskhelia stance with Napoli

Conte is hoping that Kvaratskhelia will commit his future to Napoil, but he insists that all he asks from any of his players is that they give their all until the end of the current season, regardless of contractual situations.

“It’s been discussed for a while now. There are definitely conversations happening between the club and the player and his entourage. Going into precise details is the club and sporting director’s job, they’ll eventually talk figures.

“I won’t go into specifics, all I can say is that Kvara gives me everything I ask of him, he’s focussed on this season, he’s serious, a professional, a leader by example. This season is really important for us, I hope things can be sorted out and that an agreement is found.

“But I also know that anything can happen in football and that there has to be an agreement that pleases everyone. Whatever the case, I ask everyone to be at their best until the end of the season. I won’t go beyond that, regardless of whether an agreement is reached or not, we all have to be focussed on what we are doing.”

Conte then explained what it will take to see Kvaratskhelia start in the same line-up as summer signing David Neres.

“Yes, you asked last time about Kvara-Neres,” Conte said to one journalist. “It’s important to remember that when you play against a team that blocks off five channels, there is a need to drop a winger into midfield, like Politano, or drop a midfielder deeper to create a five, like other teams do.

“We could also play Lobotka or Gilmour deeper so that there’s not a numerical inferiority. If team’s don’t line up against us like that, then there’s a possibility of seeing Kvara and Neres together, but balance is the basis of everything.”