Napoli, McTominay: Winning not enough, with Conte it’s a fresh start | OneFootball

The winning mentality is not inherited, it is built day by day. This is the message that Scott McTominay wanted to convey in the interview given to Il Mattino, in which the Scottish midfielder told about the spirit with which the Napoli, champions of Italy, is preparing to start the new season under the guidance of Antonio Conte.

Napoli, McTominay: "Winning is not enough. With Conte, we always start from scratch"

A season, the one at the door, that for McTominay represents anything but a confirmation: it is, rather, a restart.

"The victory of the title has not changed anything. Conte was clear from the first day: we cannot afford to relax, we must continue to work with the same intensity. Every game will be a high-level challenge and we must always be up to it," he declared.

"Amma faticà… always": McTominay's mantra for the new Napoli Resuming the famous motto that accompanied the team last year - "Amma faticà" - McTominay relaunches with an even more determined version:

"If this year's slogan is 'Amma faticà… again', I say 'Amma faticà… always'", emphasizing that success should never lower the threshold of commitment.

A philosophy in full harmony with Conte's working method, which has already conveyed to the group the need not to rest on its laurels. The Scudetto, in short, is not a point of arrival, but a new starting point.

Preseason between effort and group building Asked about Napoli's fluctuating performances in the first summer friendlies (against Arezzo, Catanzaro and Brest), McTominay urged not to draw hasty conclusions:

"At this moment, what matters is construction. We are working hard to create new technical and mental connections, which will serve us to face the season. When we start to get serious, there will be no more excuses," he clarified.

The De Bruyne effect and the bond with Napoli Among the most discussed new acquisitions of the summer is Kevin De Bruyne, a reinforcement that has strengthened the club's ambitions. And McTominay was not surprised:

"I knew I had arrived at an ambitious company. The arrival of a champion like De Bruyne is confirmation of how much Napoli wants to grow even more," he explained.

But in addition to the technical aspects, the player also wanted to tell about his personal bond with the city:

"My whole family lived Napoli with enthusiasm, trying to discover everything possible. The celebrations for the Scudetto were unique moments, which we will always carry with us".

And if the fans already consider him an idol, he prefers to keep his feet on the ground:

"I have never felt like a star. I am a normal guy, raised in a family that has always worked. But I understood how much love there is here. The Neapolitans are visceral, authentic. That's why I feel the duty to always give everything on the field".

A renewed spirit, but the hunger remains McTominay's words offer a significant insight into how Napoli is facing the new season. A champion team of Italy, yes, but with the awareness that the goal achieved is only a step in a still long journey.

With a leader like Conte and motivated players at every level, Napoli aims not to be a flash in the pan. The watchword is only one: continue to struggle. Always.

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