“We Are Improving, We Believed To The End And Were Rewarded With The Winner Seconds From The End”

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It was a fairytale ending to the match between Napoli and Cagliari at the Stadio Maradona as they host needed a last minute goal to grab all three points when the game looked like it was going to end in a draw and for their coach, he was ready for whichever result.

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In his post match interview, Antonio Conte insisted that he would’ve ‘been happy with a 0-0’ result, so was overjoyed at the last-gasp winner as they were increasingly frustrated in their first match of the season at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as title holders.

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They failed to break down a rugged Sardinian defence and their former goalkeeper Elia Caprile.However However, deep into stoppages at the 95th minute, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa swept in the Alessandro Buongiorno assist to give them all three points.

What did Conte think on the touchline? “Finally!” he told DAZN. “You all saw what happened, it was your typical game where you run the very big risk of defeat. I would’ve even been happy with the 0-0, because we played as a real team, with patience, trying to find the way through.”

“It felt like the goal was cursed, while Cagliari were very, very intense, I didn’t expect them to be this defensive. We did not allow them counter-attacks, which was the most important thing, as when you are dominating like that, you run the risk.” He continued in his assessment of the game.

“We are improving in terms of concentration and intensity, we believed to the end, and were rewarded with the winner 20 seconds from the end. I am very happy.” They struggled to get a goal with Lorenzo Lucca and Italy Under-21 international Ambrosino their only centre-forward options.

Romelu Lukaku will be out of action for three to four months after a serious thigh injury and Rasmus Hojlund will undergo his medical tomorrow, arriving as an emergency backup, on loan for €6m with obligation to buy for €44m if Napoli qualify for the Champions League.

“When you are up against teams who defend so deep, with two lines of players, the best thing to do is move the ball around and spread them open,” he noted. “Or you can have crosses and fill the box. We did both those things, but weren’t always ready to meet the crosses from Spinazzola and Politano.”

“These are matches where you need patience, you mustn’t be frenetic. Lucca was signed to learn from Romelu, but seeing as Romelu got hurt, he needs to speed up the process by himself and understand how to get into certain team movements.” Hojlund landed before the game and will complete his transfer from Manchester United tomorrow with medical tests.

As for Eljif Elmas, he is also returning to the club from RB Leipzig. “I’ve said that we signed players who can give us a hand for the present and will be the future of Napoli too. We tried to grow and complete the squad, because last season we didn’t have European competition, so were based around 12-13 players,” continued Conte.

“This year, we need to introduce new players into a squad that won the Scudetto. It’s only been two games, I try to choose the players who give me the most guarantees, and naturally that is mainly those who were here last season. Unfortunately, David Neres felt a pain in his adductor this morning, so we preferred not to risk him tonight.”

“Noa Lang will get more playing time as we go forward. Buongiorno is back from injury, but Juan Jesus always confirms he is ready whenever called upon. Ambrosino made his debut today, as we need players like him and Vergara who can bulk up the numbers, and they are youth products.”

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“Elmas could’ve been handy tonight, as he can play in midfield, Hojlund should arrive too. We’re trying to do things the right way, knowing that the squad was not capable last season of handling all the competitions we have this year,” concluded the coach.

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