Conte: ‘Napoli revolution was forced upon us’ by injury crisis

Antonio Conte insists his tactical revolution at Napoli was ‘a necessity’ due to the injury crisis and hopes ‘nothing else happens’ against Benfica tonight.

It kicks off at the Estadio da Luz at 20.00 GMT.

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

The Partenopei are brimming with confidence after important Serie A victories against Roma and Juventus to stay top of the table alongside AC Milan.

It is a remarkable run considering the injury crisis, which has ruled out Stanislav Lobotka, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Miguel Gutierrez and Romelu Lukaku.

“In a very difficult spell that we could not have predicted or prepared for, the good thing is that the lads always stepped up to the plate,” Conte told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“During these first six months, there have been games like the one at PSV Eindhoven that did not make us happy. We must always try to improve, because when you fall down, you’ve got to get back on your feet and find the right path.

“This season we’ve introduced nine new players, so it took time to integrate them all, and today they’re playing because they deserve it and also because we are forced to with the emergency situation.”

Napoli are top of the Serie A table and feeling confident, just a few weeks after some suggested they were in crisis.

“It’s easier to pick up speed when the wind is in your sails, but when the wind is against you, someone is needed to steer the boat into the right direction,” replied Conte.

In the midst of the injury crisis, he took control and changed the tactical system to a 3-4-2-1 formation, but insists it was less inspiration, more desperation.

“We went back to a three-man defence because we were obliged to, as we don’t have any midfielders left other than Lobotka and McTominay,” continued Conte.

“It is a necessity. Elmas is a joker in the pack who is doing very well, because he’s a smart lad who picks things up very quickly, and we catapulted him into this position.

“All we’ve got on the bench is Vergara, who has promise, but I had to find a solution just for those I had left. All those who got injured in midfield, apart from Lobotka, will be out for a while, so we hope that nothing else happens.”

Conte had said before the Juventus game that Lobotka’s injury is not serious and he should be back in a couple of weeks.