logo
Antonio Conte Reveals Message To Napoli Squad After 1-1 Serie A Draw Vs Inter Milan: ‘For The First Time, I Said It'

Antonio Conte Reveals Message To Napoli Squad After 1-1 Serie A Draw Vs Inter Milan: ‘For The First Time, I Said It'

Yahooa day ago

Antonio Conte Reveals Message To Napoli Squad After 1-1 Serie A Draw Vs Inter Milan: 'For The First Time, I Said It'
Antonio Conte says that he finally gave his Serie A title message to the Napoli squad after their 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in March.
The coach spoke to Italian outlet Sette, via FCInterNews. He recalled how that was the match where he was convinced that his team could dream of the title.
Advertisement
Napoli beat Inter Milan to the Serie A title in the season just gone. They did so on the final day of the season, by just a point.
It was a campaign in which the Partenopei had the advantage in the title race for the majority of the time.
However, it was also a season that saw Inter push Napoli all the way. They had chances to overtake the Partenopei right until the end, but failed to take advantage of them.
Antonio Conte Reveals Serie A Title Message To Napoli After 1-1 Draw Vs Inter
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 18: SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and SSC Napoli at Gewiss Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by)
Napoli were able to establish a lead for themselves in the table relatively early on in the season.
However, there was always a sense that this advantage was relatively precarious. Even with Inter's regular slip-ups in the league.
Advertisement
Wins over teams like AC Milan, Roma, Atalanta, and Juventus certainly gave Napoli more credibility in the title race.
However, it was the head-to-head matches against Inter that really set the tone in the title race.
In November, Inter hosted Napoli at the San Siro. The Nerazzurri were perhaps the better side then and unlucky to draw 1-1.
But in Naples in March it was a much different story. Inter took the lead in the first half, but Napoli were absolutely dominant in the second half, and deservedly snatched a point late on.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte recalled 'the one against Inter' as the match that really made him believe the title was possible.
Advertisement
'When we cam behind. And even looked like we could've won it.'
'I said it publicly for the first time after that,' said Conte. 'If we want it, we can do it.'
'That was a message for my players,' the Napoli coach continued. 'I believed in it, and so they had to do so as well.'
'Then in football there's always room for the unlikely. The draw against Genoa seriously risked compromising our Scudetto chase.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Elliot Anderson finishes off Spain as England Under-21s reach Euros' last four
Elliot Anderson finishes off Spain as England Under-21s reach Euros' last four

Yahoo

time35 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Elliot Anderson finishes off Spain as England Under-21s reach Euros' last four

Lee Carsley said this week that achieving back-to-back European titles at under-21 level could help to enhance the reputation of British coaches, not to mention this group of young England players. An impressive quarter-final victory over pre-tournament favourites Spain intent on dishing out revenge will certainly not have done either any harm. Having struggled to reach the last eight with an inexperienced squad that is one of the youngest in Slovakia, goals from James McAtee and Harvey Elliott – both of whom have uncertain futures at their clubs – and a late penalty from Elliot Anderson sealed another triumph for Carsley over the same opponents England saw off in the 2023 final. With the Netherlands up next in Wednesday's semi-final in Bratislava, he is now two matches away from matching Dave Sexton's feat of winning this competition in 1982 and 1984. Advertisement Related: Spain 1-3 England: European Under-21 Championship quarter-final – live reaction Spain have become regular opponents for England in the latter stages of various youth tournaments over recent years, although only their coach, Santi Denia, remained from their bad-tempered defeat in the final of this competition two years ago in Georgia when both sides had a member of the coaching staff and a player sent off. Denia has had to do without players such as Lamine Yamal – who will still be eligible for this tournament in 2029 – and Real Madrid's new signing Dean Huijsen, but has built a team around the Valencia playmaker Javi Guerra that sailed through the group stages. It seemed that England might be overwhelmed in the first two minutes when Diego López headed over from close range and the Italian referee, Simone Sozza, pointed to the spot after a powerful shot from López struck Charlie Cresswell on the arm. But the video assistant referee saw it differently and – to the Toulouse defender's relief as he pumped his fist in celebration – the penalty was overturned. That proved to be the wake-up call England needed. McAtee looks set to leave Manchester City this summer, having been allowed to play here rather than travel to the Club World Cup, and showed his eye for goal when he was quickest to react after Spain made a hash of clearing Alex Scott's corner. Advertisement Jarell Quansah was the architect of the second after Birmingham's Jay Stansfield, leading the line as one of four changes from the defeat by Germany in midweek, forced a loose pass. The Liverpool defender is on the verge of joining Bayer Leverkusen for £30m, while Elliott's future at Anfield is also in question after the arrival of Florian Wirtz from the German club. But when Quansah strode forward and unleashed a shot that was not convincingly saved, Elliott was on hand to turn in the rebound. Suddenly England were rampant as Tino Livramento came close to extending their lead when he forced Alejandro Iturbe into a save at his near post. Spain looked dazed and were grateful to be handed a lifeline from the spot. Scott gave the ball away in a dangerous area and when Quansah tripped Alberto Moleiro, this time there was no debate as Guerra swept home the penalty. England looked determined to finish the job at the start of the second half. But Stansfield's touch let him down following another surging run from Quansah and his shot deflected over, with Cresswell heading the corner inches wide. Anderson – a surprise omission for Liverpool's Tyler Morton having started all three group stage games – was brought on with Jonathan Rowe as Carsley rolled the dice. Denia also made two changes, with James Beadle forced into a double save to keep out Guerra. There were hearts in mouths when a cross from the right fizzed across the six-yard area but Cresswell came to England's rescue with an acrobatic clearance. Spain continued to press for an equaliser and Jack Hinshelwood could have settled Carsley's nerves had he directed a free header from Anderson's cross on target rather than over the crossbar. But when Jonathan Rowe was brought down by Iturbe in injury time, Anderson made no mistake with his penalty and even some unsavoury scenes at the final whistle when members of the Spain bench provoked a confrontation will not have dampened England's delight.

Revealed: Why Son Heung-min and two other Tottenham Hotspur stars did NOT receive Europa League medals
Revealed: Why Son Heung-min and two other Tottenham Hotspur stars did NOT receive Europa League medals

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Revealed: Why Son Heung-min and two other Tottenham Hotspur stars did NOT receive Europa League medals

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Son Heung-min was one of three players not to receive his medal on the San Mames pitch. | Credit: Getty Images UEFA have revealed why three Tottenham Hotspur players, including Son Heung-min, did not receive their Europa League winners' medals on Wednesday night. Advertisement It was all celebrations for Ange Postecoglou's men at San Mames, as they edged past Manchester United in the Europa League by a single goal, scored by Brennan Johnson. He duly received his medal at the end of the game from UEFA bosses, but not all his teammates were so lucky. UEFA explain Tottenham's missing medals Cristian Romero was another Spurs star to leave the stage empty-handed | Credit: Getty Images Son, Rodrigo Bentancur and Cristian Romero all left the medals podium empty-handed, despite all playing a part in the final and the previous rounds. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin could be seen throwing his fellow officials a glance when he realised they'd run out of medals to present to the Spurs stars. The medals shortage produced an awkward moment for UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin The governing body have since revealed that the problem arose after Tottenham sent more players to receive a medal than UEFA expected. Advertisement Both the winners and runners-up are given 50 medals each to distribute as they see fit, but only 30 are taken out onto the pitch. In a statement, UEFA said: 'To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members - including injured players - participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated. 'The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight.' Son and his colleagues did, thankfully, receive their medals at a later point in the dressing room | Credit: Alamy Given that Spurs sent up the likes of Sergio Regulion before captain Son – the former having not played a single minute in the competition – Spurs bear more than a little responsibility for the mix-up themselves, in FourFourTwo's opinion. Advertisement But trophies and silverware have not been a regular occurrence for the Lilywhites of late, so you can forgive a little eagerness in the moment. Tottenham next face Brighton & Hove Albion when Premier League action returns for the final day this weekend.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min in talks to leave, with 'advanced relations' cited: report
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min in talks to leave, with 'advanced relations' cited: report

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min in talks to leave, with 'advanced relations' cited: report

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Son Heung-min may soon leave Tottenham Hotspur on a high. | Credit: Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min could soon be exiting the north London club. Once part of a formidable partnership with Harry Kane, there is no question the South Korea international's powers appeared to have waned last season. Advertisement Thankfully, after an almost 10-year association with Tottenham, Son finally marked his time at the club with a trophy last season, lifting the Europa League under departed boss Ange Postecoglou. Son weighs up transfer away from Tottenham Despite a difficult season, Son has an opportunity to wave goodbye on a positive note | Credit: Getty Images Son has scored over 100 goals for Tottenham, and is ranked at no.35 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest Premier League players of all time – the highest placing of any Asian player in the list. Now 32 and somewhat struggling with the intensity of the Premier League, however, it appears Son is weighing up where to begin the twilight of his career. Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has his eye on Son | Credit: Getty Images According to journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Son has met with current Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho. Advertisement They know each other from when the Special One was in the dugout with Spurs from November 2019 until April 2021, when Son was in the midst of some of his best years. Relations between the two are thought to be 'at a very advanced level' with the player open to the move and a transfer fee of £30m mooted. Son – the third-most expensive Asian player of all time – would be Spurs' second permanent sale of the summer window, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg set to make his Marseille loan permanent when his current contract expires at the end of June. Son and Mourinho struck up a strong bond when the Portuguese manager was in north London In FourFourTwo's opinion, now seems the perfect time for Son to wave goodbye. Ending on the high of a Europa League trophy, that long-awaited piece of silverware at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, will cement the forward's place as a legend of the club. Advertisement FourFourTwo understands that the Lilywhites are open to a sale, too, having triggered an option to extend the no.7's contract in January, so that they wouldn't lose him for free this summer. Son is valued at €20m, according to Transfermarkt.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store