Conte: ‘Napoli a work in progress, were not competitive over 2 tournaments’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte starts the season as the reigning champion of Italy, but insists Napoli remain ‘a work in progress’ with so many new players. ‘We were not capable of being competitive over several tournaments.’

The coach sat down for a lengthy press conference during pre-season training, knowing full well that the expectations have changed dramatically from this time last year.

After winning the Serie A title in his debut campaign and bringing in new players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Noa Lang, Sam Beukema, Lorenzo Lucca and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, the pressure is on to repeat that success and balance it with Champions League football too.

epa12092721 Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs CF Genoa at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, 11 May 2025. EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

“All teams who brought in a lot of new players will be a work in progress at this stage,” said Conte.

“I am happy with the effort put in by the lads, I received positive responses both from the old group and the six new lads, but it is inevitable that it will take time to get them into the mechanisms and tactical ideas.

“Balance is essential for all teams. When I say we are a work in progress, I mean also that we are trying different solutions. We did it throughout last season too, a coach must seek alternatives, even if we are working hard on the 4-3-3 formation. Balance is the key to everything.”

Conte downplays Napoli expectations

PARMA, ITALY – MAY 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, reacts during the Serie A match between Parma and Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on May 18, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Once again, Conte tried to downplay the expectations around his Napoli side, despite their Scudetto triumph.

“Since I arrived a year ago, we signed 13 new players and sold seven, among them top players like Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giacomo Raspadori. These are facts. So when any team has this much movement in and out, it is still in the reconstruction stage. Not many teams who want to be competitive for the Scudetto can handle all this movement.

“It’s true we won the title, which was extraordinary and incredible, but now we need to take the second step before we can think about taking the third. At my original press conference, I said I’d be happy to find some stability. Now we are trying to complete a squad that was not capable of being competitive over several different tournaments.”

NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 09: Giacomo Raspadori of Napoli (hidden) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates and staff during the Serie A match between Napoli and Fiorentina at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 09, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

With so many new players coming in, others pushed to leave in order to get more regular playing time, including the hero of two Serie A titles Giacomo Raspadori.

“I want to thank all those players who contributed and left, we will always have affection for them,” assured Conte.

“I also wish to clarify that those who left asked to do so, for various reasons. I asked for guarantees from De Laurentiis when I first arrived to keep some players, but after a year, my door is open and anyone who wants to move on is free to do so. Jack said he wanted this opportunity with Atletico Madrid and it’s only right he chooses his path.”

Among the old guard is Lukaku, who had arrived late last summer due to the negotiations with Chelsea, and now hopes to keep flourishing under Conte’s guidance.

“Lukaku was fundamental for the Scudetto, he was bought for €30m, but undoubtedly having proper pre-season training that he hadn’t experienced for a few years can be a benefit for him. He is also at full maturity and mentally has to realise he is one of the leaders of this team, along with Di Lorenzo, Anguissa, Lobotka and Rrahmani. They must all show the path to the new players.

“We moved on the market to get goals from elsewhere too, but I also expect Romelu to do as well as last season and even better. We must all defend and attack together.”