Napoli 2-2 Verona – Conte questions ‘strange’ decisions: ‘Should Hojlund have his arm amputated?’

Antonio Conte was left frustrated but defiant after Napoli fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hellas Verona, with the coach feeling the reigning champions were on the wrong end of a ‘strange’ penalty decision.

Speaking to DAZN at full-time, with quotes via CalcioMercato, the Napoli coach insisted the result was shaped by key incidents, including the penalty awarded to Verona and a goal disallowed for Rasmus Hojlund due to handball.

“There isn’t only disappointment,” Conte said. “These are matches you risk losing. There were two negative episodes for us where we could have done better.”

Conte accepted the officials’ decisions, but not without making his feelings clear.

“The penalty decision is a strange evaluation, but we accept it,” he added.

“Those two negative episodes could have killed anyone, but the team reacted well. And with Hojlund, I honestly don’t know where he’s supposed to put his arm, what should he do, amputate it? It becomes difficult like this, but we move forward.”

Looking ahead to Napoli’s upcoming clash with Inter, Conte played down talk of favourites.

“I’m not interested in discussing that. If I say something, it causes chaos,” he said.

“We know we’re facing a very strong team that has reached two Champions League finals in two years. We’ll go there with determination and the desire to give everything.”

Conte also defended recent comments praising Inter, Milan and Juventus.

“I didn’t say anything strange. I simply paid compliments to Inter, Milan and Juventus and their history,” he concluded. “If I talk about referees, there’s uproar. If others do, nothing happens. I understand I’m a media figure, but this only happens to me in Italy.”