Conte after tactical tweaks: ‘I am very honest with Napoli players’

Antonio Conte explains how he came to his Napoli tactical changes for the 3-1 victory over Atalanta. ‘I am very honest with my players. I am as you see me.’

The Partenopei were feeling the pressure going into this game, as they had managed just two draws from their last three matches between Serie A and the Champions League.

They got off to a perfect start against Atalanta this evening, as David Neres hadn’t scored for 11 months, yet got two in the first half.

Just before the break, Noa Lang celebrated only his second start of the season with his first goal for the club.

Yet Atalanta came out fighting for the restart, Gianluca Scamacca’s acrobatic volley pulling one back, as his men held on for the points.

“We are satisfied with the victory and the way we achieved it, with a first half where we kept a high tempo, but we also maintained the high press after the break and it was inevitable a team losing 3-0 would pour forward,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia.

“We could’ve had more control of the ball in the second half, but it’s fine, as we beat a very strong Atalanta side. I studied them with their performance against Olympique Marseille, winning in a very tough atmosphere that I know well.

“There was a great energy about the team today.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Napoli 3-1 Atalanta

It was put to Conte that he was perhaps now more reassured by the response from his Napoli players after his anger in the wake of a 2-0 defeat to Bologna, when he took a few days off in Turin.

“Maybe those who are outside and don’t know the rapport I have with the players worry more than I do. There is a strong rapport, I am very transparent, I don’t wear masks, so I am very honest with them. I am as you see me. I know many don’t like that, but I was always taught that honesty is essential.

“It’s right that the media do their talking, while we must continue working.”

Part of the tactical key to getting the best out of these wingers was moving them closer to centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund, so less of a 3-4-3 and more a 3-4-2-1.

It was sparked by an injury crisis ruling out Billy Gilmour, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, Alex Meret and Romelu Lukaku.

“The problem is the latest setback was Frank Anguissa, who got hurt on international duty, and forced me to make some reflections on the objective state of the midfield,” explained Conte.

“There are very few left in there, as Elmas isn’t really a midfielder, but he’s doing it well, so all we’ve got are Lobo, Scott and a young lad with prospects who is Vergara, and even he is more of a trequartista.”

Napoli are temporarily back on top of the Serie A table, awaiting the results from Roma’s trip to Cremonese and the Milan Derby on Sunday.

After Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Qarabag, there is a huge Scudetto showdown with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico next weekend.

“Qarabag are the surprise outfit of the Champions League so far this season, so we need to recover energy and prepare for this new challenge,” concluded Conte.