Conte fires back at critics of European record; provides update on Buongiorno and Gilmour | OneFootball

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has fired back at critics of his record in European competitions, saying “to those who criticise me, I say this: before you talk, make sure to know the facts” because “you don’t just show up and win in the Champions League.”

Speaking to the press (with quotes via IlNapolista) from his first conference of the season at the team’s training camp in Dimaro, Conte said “With so many competitions, we can’t think in terms of starters and non-starters. We’ll have lots of matches and there will always be space for everyone. That’s why we need to build up the squad, that wasn’t structured and still isn’t, to handle all these competitions. In my opinion we are moving very deliberately, with an eye on the present but also very much on the future.”

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

Conte provides updates on new arrivals and injured players

Napoli have already added a number of players to their team in preparation for defending their Scudetto in the upcoming Serie A season, with Noa Lang, Lorenzo Lucca and Kevin De Bruyne amongst the names added.

The Neapolitan side moved quickly to beat the likes of Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille to the signature of Lang and fended off competition from Milan for the signature of Udinese’s Lucca.

De Bruyne was signed on a free from Manchester City and adds a valuable world-class player to Conte’s arsenal in Naples. However, Conte also took time to focus on the future and the younger players added to the squad. The coach said “Aside from De Bruyne, the others have shown very good potential but haven’t yet reached their peak. My job is to help them grow and raise their level. Many of them have chosen Napoli because they know this is a good place to significantly improve their career.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Lorenzo Lucca of Italy during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“That’s true for Lucca, Lang and Marianucci, who is only 21. Beukema is coming and these are good players who want to elevate their status. That will bring us benefits, which is why the long-term work we’re doing is so important.”

Conte also provided an update on injured duo Alessandro Buongiorno and Billy Gilmour: “As for Buongiorno, he recently had surgery and we hope he’ll be available to us in three weeks time. Gilmour played two matches with his national team and has been dealing with some adductor issues, so we are monitoring his situation. There’s no point in forcing anything now and we are committed to his recovery.”

Conte: ‘Look at City and PSG, you have to build for Champions League over time’

The Italian media have sometimes been critical of Conte’s performance in the Champions League but the coach was eager to set the record straight today:

“Let me ask you something: do you know how many times I’ve participated in European competitions? Six years. Two with Juve, one with Spurs, one with Chelsea and two with Inter. Always taking over teams in a rebuilding phase.”

“I understand people ask for miracles,” Conte continued, “but you can’t overlook the facts.” He argued that “you don’t just show up and win in the Champions League. It is a process, something you build over time. To do that, I need to stay longer at clubs, otherwise it is impossible to construct something lasting. The clubs I left behind are now more structured and competitive.”

MONZA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Monza and Napoli at U-Power Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“My shortcoming has been not staying at clubs long enough. Had I done so, things would have turned out differently and I would have had longer runs in the competition. Because if in only six attempts people expect me to win it all… just look at Manchester City, they won only once in ten years. PSG only won it last year.”

The coach concluded strongly, “So to those who criticise me, I say to know the facts before you talk. And we also know that our resources today are not comparable to other clubs, it is not a fair fight! Look at the transfers other clubs are making: 70, 80, 100 million. We know who we are and we are proud of who we are – but we also know our limits, and it is right that we respect them. Our TV revenue is one-fifth of what those clubs bring in, so naturally our spending power is different.”