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Antonio Conte is anticipating an emotional event when his Napoli aspect meet his former membership Lecce on Saturday, however he is aware of the Serie A leaders have a job to do.
Conte began out within the youth ranks at Lecce in 1985 and made his debut the next yr, earlier than happening to change into a family identify as a midfielder with Juventus and Italy.
Napoli, who went via three coaches and completed tenth final season, have taken 19 factors from his first eight matches on the helm to steer the Scudetto race at this early stage.
Whereas Conte is wanting ahead to his reunion with Lecce, his major focus is on retaining the Partenopei’s sturdy run going.
“There are emotions, however there’s additionally professionalism as effectively. You need to separate these issues,” Conte stated on Thursday.
“Lecce represents my origins, the dusty pitches, my father’s group, the place I grew up and went via the ranks as much as Serie A.
“It’s all the time held a particular place in my coronary heart. No one will take that away from me, however there’s nonetheless an opponent to tackle.”
Official group photograph shoot – Serie A 2024/25
#ProudToBeNapoli | @anmnapoli pic.twitter.com/FWwUh44tZL
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) October 24, 2024
Discussing the choices in his squad, the previous Chelsea and Tottenham boss added: “I make selections primarily based on what I see, possibly sure issues that aren’t all the time seen by everybody else, even when you appear to know at the least 85% of what goes on. I attempt to put the perfect group out within the formation that I believe fits us finest.
“It’s an vital sport in opposition to Lecce if we wish to proceed getting outcomes. I nonetheless have tomorrow to make the ultimate selections and draw up my beginning XI.”
Napoli are but to discipline star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and close-season signing David Neres in the identical lineup, however Conte feels the pair can play collectively in the proper situation.
“It’s vital to keep in mind that if you play in opposition to a group that blocks off 5 channels, there’s a have to drop a winger into midfield, like [Matteo] Politano, or drop a midfielder deeper to create a 5 like different groups do,” Conte stated.
“We may additionally play [Stanislav] Lobotka or [Billy] Gilmour deeper in order that there’s not a numerical inferiority.
“If groups don’t line up in opposition to us like that, then there’s a chance of seeing Kvara and Neres collectively, however steadiness is the idea of every little thing.”
