Napoli’s head coach, Antonio Conte, breathed a sigh of relief following his team’s commanding 4-0 triumph against Cremonese. This emphatic win served as a strong rebound after the previous weekend’s disappointing loss to Lazio.
Speaking to DAZN post-match, as reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, Conte appeared visibly pleased with his squad’s performance.
“I had no doubts about the team’s reaction. We didn’t hit the mark against Lazio; nothing went right. Today, there was great determination and a desire for retribution,” the coach stated.
Conte also commented on the criticism following the Lazio game, arguing, “After Lazio, there was excessive criticism for a team that had won the league and Super Cup and is still in second place.” He further noted that this was achieved despite the absence of four key players: Di Lorenzo, Neres, Lukaku, and Vergara.
Napoli 4-0 Cremonese – Conte: ‘We’re happy, we had fun and we’re second’
He acknowledged the season had been “difficult” but emphasized his message to the players: “We needed to finish the season as strongly as possible and work on our communication.”
When questioned about Scott McTominay’s optimal position after another stellar performance in a more advanced role, Conte was unequivocal. “Let’s not forget that we had to utilize McTominay in central midfield out of necessity, as only he and Lobotka were available. I believe that’s his position, as he’s a box-to-box player, and we’ve worked with him on build-up play with the other midfielder.”
He also lauded the contribution of Brazilian winger Alisson, stating he “was also important and confirmed he’s growing.” Conte added, “And I think Gutierrez also had a great performance.”
Conte concluded his post-match reflections with a rare moment of joviality: “We are happy, we had fun, and we are in second place while awaiting other results. These are three crucial points for the Champions League.”
Napoli’s focus now shifts to the challenging away fixture against Como next weekend, a match that could potentially secure their place in next season’s Champions League.
