Conte aims dig at Allegri and Milan: ‘Not playing that much’

Antonio Conte insists no action is being taken to ease the fixture congestion and taunts Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri: ‘Surely, he is not playing that much this year.’

Conte received the Panchina d’Oro award for the best Serie A coach in 2024-25 on Monday.

The Napoli coach spoke to reporters after the ceremony held in Florence and faced more questions about his recent complaints over a busy fixture list.

“I think we all agree. The problem is that it’s hard to speak out and take a position, because everyone talks, but then nobody does anything. That’s the truth,” Conte said via FcInter1908.

“We’ll keep going like this, knowing that what I said is true anyway. There are institutions in charge of these matters. The German federation was taking a stance to do something, but it couldn’t act on its own, for example, as a group of coaches.

“As for the Serie A teams, those are situations that don’t concern me directly, but it’s a problem we all agree on, including the media, because too many matches are played and the risk is too high. But in the end, nothing is being done, that’s the truth,” the Napoli boss continued.

Milan coach Allegri had just held his press conference ahead of a Serie A match against Bologna, saying, “I read a lot of controversy. We are not the ones who have to find solutions; there are competent people who must find solutions for the good of football.”

Conte commented: “I don’t know what Allegri said in his press conference. Surely this year, he is not playing that much.”

Conte’s Napoli had to deal with many injuries this season, including those of Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, David Neres and Romelu Lukaku.

The Partenopei feared that even Giovanni Di Lorenzo had sustained a long-term injury, but recent exams in his knee highlighted a second-degree sprain, meaning that he won’t need surgery, returning to action in mid-March.

Di Lorenzo’s injury relief and his latest award at least made Conte smile after days of tension.

“Those things must never be missing. During matches, there’s the stress of the job, an accumulation of fatigue, and it’s hard to hide it. However, you have to be optimistic and try to find a solution even in the worst moments,” he concluded.