Conte: ‘Napoli need physicality, but also quality’ to be ambitious | OneFootball

Antonio Conte wants to see Napoli match Udinese for their physicality today, but ‘quality is indispensable for a team that wants to control the match and be ambitious.’

It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Cagliari-Atalanta and Juventus-Venezia on the Liveblog.

This has been a difficult few days for the Partenopei, who in back-to-back defeats to Lazio crashed out of the Coppa Italia and lost in Serie A, handing the leadership over to Atalanta.

Conte seeking Napoli turnaround

NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 08: Romelu Lukaku of Napoli during the Serie A match between Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Udinese are a very physical side, that has been their focus for years. We need to play our game, try to take the initiative and find the right solutions to score goals,” Conte told DAZN.

One of the things Conte wanted when taking over this team was the introduction of more physical players, like Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay.

“We are just at the start of our process, so inevitably we tried to add some players in areas where we were lacking. We also had to bring in quality, which I find indispensable for a team that wants to control the match and be ambitious.”

David Neres is coming in for injured Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, so in a curious twist, all three players in the trident attack are left-footed today. Did Conte ask Neres for something in particular for his second Serie A start?

“We train with the starting XI and the alternatives, so he knows I ask for the same things I asked from Kvara. It is a big chance for him, he has improved a lot and I am glad he is starting.”

Alexis Sanchez is back in the Udinese squad for the first time since an injury in pre-season, someone who Conte knows well from the Scudetto-winning Inter campaign.

“Alexis is an extraordinary player who has vision and can see things others cannot. I always wish him the best.”

Michael Folorunsho was meant to be on the Napoli bench, but is ruled out with an ankle issue.