"We Must Focus On The Next Game Which Has To Be Treated As A World Cup Final"

Written By Onyeka Daniel

After the disappointment of last season, former Serie A champions, Napoli are well placed to take back their crown from current champions, Inter Milan as we enter the final stretch of the 2024-25 season, with 10 games left to play.

More Details

For their manager, Antonio Conte, he feels that his team must treat the upcoming match against strugglers Venezia as the ultimate World Cup Final as they’re just one point behind the Nerazzurri. The Partenopei visit Venezia on Sunday in a crucial Serie A match.

LATEST POSTS

Later in the evening, in fact, third-placed Atalanta will host table leaders Napoli an for the Partenopei, they’ve just the Serie A to play for while the Nerazzurri are still in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

“Every match always hides dangers, just look at Inter vs. Monza to understand that. Nothing is guaranteed,” Conte said at a press conference. “We’re facing a team in good form, fighting to stay up, and they will play their cards. We’ll have to put in an excellent performance, and that’s what I expect.”

He was then asked what will be more important in the last ten games of the season, the technique, the tactics or the mentality? “Training these guys throughout the week has definitely helped us a lot this year; otherwise, it would have been tough from every point of view,” Conte argued.

“It has helped us, and even when difficulties came, we were good at always finding a solution. Ten games are left, and we approach them with a well-balanced tactical setup where every detail will matter. But I don’t look at all ten. I focus on the next one, which has to be treated as the ultimate World Cup Final.”

“Against Venezia, we have to show that we are better than them, hungrier than them, and more eager to win, knowing that they will try to steal our ideas,” Conte continued. “I’ve studied the teams that played there and the difficulties faced by Inter, Roma, and Lazio, who only managed a draw. It won’t be a walk in the park.”

“I expect a great match. It will require maturity and proof that we are fully focused.”Not even Atalanta-Inter will influence Conte and his lads.“I think I’ve gotten you used to hearing me talk only about the next match, focusing on ourselves,” he continued.

“Everything we’ve built, we’ve done by looking at ourselves with blinders on, without getting distracted or influenced by what’s around us and we will continue this way. When you reach the final third of the season, every game becomes harder. You start seeing the objectives, and the pressure and stress increase,” Conte added.

“Whether you’re playing against a team fighting for the title or battling to avoid relegation, it makes no difference. It all depends on us and how we approach the matches. What I always say, and will never stop repeating, is that you can lose a game, but the opponent must prove they were tactically and technically superior.”

“However, we cannot afford to be beaten in terms of desire and will to win. We should never come second to anyone in that regard.” He further added. Meanwhile, multiple sources in Italy claim the club from Naples have reached an agreement to sign Empoli defender Luca Marianucci for the next summer transfer window.

The 2024-25 season isn’t over, but Napoli have already secured the first signing for 2025-26. Several sources, in fact, claim that the Partenopei have shaken hands with Empoli for 20-year-old defender Marianucci. The Livorno-born centre-back made his Serie A debut this season.

So far, he has collected 14 appearances across all competitions under Roberto D’Aversa. Sportitalia Alfredo Pedullà broke the news earlier this week, saying that Napoli had reached an agreement with Empoli over a permanent €9m deal. On Saturday, Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta confirmed that the two clubs had shaken hands for a similar fee.

Read Also: Plans For A New San Siro Finally Takes Off

Marianucci is expected to sign a five-year deal at the Stadio Maradona and join the club when the summer transfer window opens on July 1, 2025. A product of the Empoli academy, Marianucci has provided two assists in four Coppa Italia matches this term and contributed to the Tuscans’ qualification for the tournament’s semi-finals.

Do you have a story tip?
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube

Bookmark (0)

Please login to bookmark