Napoli: Conte unveils new side, friendly vs Arezzo shows fatigue | OneFootball

Napoli 2.0 under Antonio Conte falls in its season debut. A 0-2 defeat against Arezzo, a Serie C team, which does not worry either the coach or the club environment, but does offer interesting insights for assessing the team’s physical and tactical condition, in light of the very tough training loads imposed from the very first days of the training camp.

Napoli, fatigue before play: Conte launches his new Napoli, but the friendly against Arezzo highlights the toxins

The weight of preparation: intensity and fatigue above all else Amma faticà. Again. It’s no secret: Conte’s summer training camps are legendary for their intensity. Double training sessions, relentless pace, obsessive attention to every physical and mental detail. In Dimaro, the team appeared heavy-legged, bogged down by a workload that allows no shortcuts. It’s a choice consistent with the coach’s philosophy, which aims to build a solid team for the long term, rather than a brilliant one in the short term.

The negative result, coming against a team two divisions lower, does not surprise insiders, who know that the goal of these early outings is not the result, but the endurance and assimilation of new playing principles.

De Bruyne and Lang: talent in the break-in phase Among the most anticipated names, Kevin De Bruyne had a tentative debut. The Belgian, who appeared out of shape, still showed a couple of flashes that are enough to confirm the club’s tactical intuition: the quality is there, now it needs to be supported by fitness. The same goes for Noa Lang, who alternates high-level plays with clear athletic difficulties, but still hints at his potential within Conte’s system.

De Bruyne nonetheless created the only two real chances of the first half with two dangerous shots: even if lackluster, he remains the technical beacon of the new team.

The new arrivals: good signs from Beukema, Marianucci, and Lucca Conte is trying to integrate the new arrivals gradually. Among them, Beukema and Marianucci stood out for their determination and defensive solidity, while Lorenzo Lucca, a center forward with an imposing physical presence, tried to shoulder the attack but understandably struggled in terms of movement. For him too, the adaptation process will be crucial in the coming months.

Mechanisms and identity: time is the first ally Overall, the feelings remain positive and consistent with the technical project. Conte has the reigning Italian champions, but has made it clear from the start that he intends to build a more competitive and deeper squad in this new era. The first weeks will be dedicated not only to physical conditioning, but also to establishing a clear tactical identity, an essential trademark for the coach from Salento.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.