Conte anger at Inter, Marotta and Lautaro Martinez: ‘Napoli not getting killed’

Antonio Conte angrily hit back at Inter for ‘creating alibis’ over the penalty, lashed out at Lautaro Martinez, and assured Napoli ‘had no intention of getting killed’ today.

The Partenopei came into this game with an injury crisis and losing four of their last seven competitive games, including a 6-2 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven midweek.

When they took the lead with a Kevin De Bruyne penalty, the former Manchester City midfielder injured his right hamstring in the process and might be out for a while, as he was spotted on the bench towards the end with crutches.

Scott McTominay doubled their lead, then Hakan Calhanoglu converted a spot-kick, but Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa completed the 3-1 rout.

“I live the game with my players, for good and bad, and we played against in my view the best squad in Italy,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

“They dropped some points along the way, but their squad is on paper on a completely different level to all the others. They didn’t get to the Champions League Final twice in three years because of a fluke.

“To have won this game, with all the difficulties that we had, missing players like Lobotka, Rrahmani, Meret and Hojlund, then losing De Bruyne, with Lukaku out since pre-season…

“Perhaps someone has cursed us, but we keep going anyway. Inter came here today aiming to on a sporting level ‘kill’ us, as they were in great shape and coming off a run of seven straight wins, facing a side like ours that had lost to Torino and Eindhoven.

“If you understand that moment of the campaign, you have to kill your opponent, but we had no intention of dying. In amongst all those problems, we put in a great performance.”

There was a moment of real tension too, as Conte was booked for his part in a touchline scuffle involving Denzel Dumfries and especially Lautaro Martinez, as the coach exchanged some rather harsh hand gestures with the Inter captain.

Was there something left over from the time they worked together at Inter?

“When you play games at this level, these things can happen,” noted the coach.

“I just want to remind Inter that I brought the Scudetto back to the club after 10 years, including nine consecutive Juventus titles, and you know what that means to me. I retain very good memories of that experience.

“Lautaro is a very good player, perhaps I didn’t get to know him that well on a personal level. I wish him all the best, that’s fine.”

Inter sent President Giuseppe Marotta to speak to the media after the match rather than coach Cristian Chivu, to complain about the controversial opening penalty.

“Inter send Marotta and the directors whenever they get the opportunity, whereas at Napoli I come here,” replied Conte.

“A team has to evaluate and realise why they lost, doing this they just create alibis for the players and coach. I would not have allowed it. Now Marotta is President, but it’s not right that he has to come here and make these statements…

“I say with all due respect for the director, leave these things to the people who actually participated in the match, because it is diminishing the role of the coach too.

“I always stood up for myself, so a club making these sorts of statements… It’s fine,” concluded a visibly irritated Conte.