Conte: De Laurentiis ‘needs to know’ Napoli will need reinforcements next season | OneFootball

Antonio Conte is already planning Napoli’s next season in his mind, and he disclosed to his president Aurelio De Laurentiis that his side will need reinforcements to compete both on the domestic and international stage.

The Partenopei sit at the top of Serie A with a four-point lead over chasers Fiorentina and Inter, who saw their match suspended over a medical emergency after Edoardo Bove’s collapse on Sunday, but Atalanta are also level on points with them and could cut the gap with Napoli to one point by winning against Roma on Monday.

epa11751697 Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte (C) celebrates with players the 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs SSC Napoli at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 01 December 2024. EPA-EFE/Alessandro Di Marco

But while the Scudetto race is still open to potential twists, the prospect of playing European football is looking increasingly likely for the Stadio Maradona’s outfit, and Conte made it already clear that he will need a deeper squad to fight on multiple fronts.

Conte will expect Napoli reinforcement next season

“Today was the 14th match,” the former Chelsea and Inter tactician said at a post-match press conference after his side’s 1-0 win at Torino, as quoted by TMW.

“Looking at the other teams, how they’ve strengthened, especially with the European commitments in mind, and if we manage to get into Europe, we’ll need to reinforce this squad… The president needs to know that.

“Right now, we have 21 outfield players, and we’ve done what a team that only play in the league and the Coppa Italia would do.

epa11738809 Napoli�s head coach Antonio Conte gives instructions to his players during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs AS Roma at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 24 November 2024. EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

“What I can say, beyond other discussions, is that one source of satisfaction is that we’re up there and handling the pressure. But beyond the result, I see a group that’s growing as a collective. It’s tangible, it’s obvious, that what we’re doing is improving.

“Today I asked for specific things, we worked on being more aggressive in attack, and today we did it. I’m never fully happy, they know that…”

Scott McTominay’s winner against the Granata earned his side their second consecutive 1-0 victory and saw them pick up their ninth Serie A clean sheet from 14 games.