Antonio Conte expressed his disappointment with Napoli’s 3-2 defeat to Bologna, believing the team did not deserve to lose. However, he also conceded that consistently falling behind early in matches is “evidently not a fluke” and a problem that needs addressing. The manager stressed the immediate priority is to “secure Champions League football.”
Napoli entered the match with the opportunity to guarantee their place in the Champions League with two games left in the season. They found themselves trailing 2-0 due to goals from Federico Bernardeschi and Riccardo Orsolini. Although Napoli managed to equalize through Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alisson Santos, a late acrobatic volley from Jonathan Rowe in stoppage time sealed their defeat.
Conte Expresses Frustration Over Napoli’s Stumble
“When you press, you’ve got to do it properly, because if you only do it half-way then you just end up running around for nothing,” Conte stated in his post-match comments. “We could’ve been more determined in the pressing, but it wasn’t the first time this season we were 2-0 down, so that means it’s not a fluke. Evidently we need to be more determined in the initial approach, because it keeps happening.”
He added, “We managed to get it back on track, tried to win and pushed hard, but if you can’t win, then you should at least try not to lose. I don’t think we deserved to lose, but these things happen.”
“There are two games to go, we’ve got to recharge the batteries, secure Champions League football in these two matches and try to do our best. I am not upset with the performance, I saw the lads wanted to get the job done tonight, but at times there’s a twist in the tale.”
Following this result, Napoli’s Champions League qualification is no longer guaranteed. They now hold a narrow two-point lead over Juventus in third place, with Milan and Roma three points behind. Even Como remains in contention, five points adrift.
Conte also commented on the performance of striker Rasmus Hojlund, who was frequently cautioned from the touchline for straying offside but is showing increased effort compared to his earlier performances.
“Let us not forget, he is the only striker we’ve got in the squad right now, so he’s playing constantly,” Conte noted. “I wish I had the chance to give him some rest. He’s young, has a lot of energy, there are moments when you need to attack the space, others when you hold up the ball. He is only 23, works hard for the team and has margin for improvement.”
Regarding Alisson Santos, who impressed with his attacking runs against defenders, Conte discussed his development and potential to fill the void left by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain.
“Alisson is improving, we are trying to use him in a way that can make the most of his characteristics. He arrived from Sporting, where he had basically never started a match, so it required a lot of work and he has improved a lot,” Conte replied. “The other problem is once the defenders get to know him, it all becomes more difficult.”