Conte furious as Napoli ‘risk throwing away absurd’ victory | OneFootball

Antonio Conte was furious with his Napoli players after a sluggish second half and 2-1 victory at Genoa. ‘It needs to stay burned into our minds, we risked throwing it away in the most absurd manner.’

The Partenopei dominated the first half with early goals from Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Amir Rrahmani, but were forced to hang on under siege after the break.

Andrea Pinamonti got a goal back, with Alex Meret making several huge saves and the woodwork helping him out too on Mario Balotelli.

“I don’t know if Genoa changed or we did,” Conte told DAZN.

“I was very satisfied with the first half, we dominated it in every way. I told the players at half-time, don’t let them back into the game, but that is exactly what we did.

“I know this stadium well, all it takes is a spark to set the atmosphere aflame. What had been totally dominated, we then ran into a series of difficulties.

“So I am very happy with the first half, but the second needs to stay burned into our minds. I told the players, that second half performance must not happen, because we stepped off the gas, risked throwing it all away in the most absurd manner.

“If we want to have the least bit of ambition and be up there causing trouble for the top spots, then we need to be on it for 95 minutes.”

Napoli do not satisfy Conte despite victory

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli (left), and Patrick Vieira, head coach of Genoa, pose for a picture prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa and Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on December 21, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Conte was asked if he was at least reassured by the rugged defending under siege of the second half, but he wants to get away from that style of football, even if it is one that tended to characterise his teams in the past.

“We need to defend by attacking, not by sitting back and letting the momentum or the initiative go the other way. When I talk about steps and improvements, this is what I mean. We were fortunate today, we could’ve easily been here crying bitter tears. I do not want to cry bitter tears,” continued the angry coach.

“The lads need to realise they must play from start to finish, with their foot on the gas at all times. I did not like a single thing about the second half. Defend by attacking, that has to be our mantra.”

This result puts Napoli temporarily top of the table, awaiting the result when Atalanta host Empoli tomorrow, then Inter welcome Como on Monday.

It was the 150th victory that Conte has experienced in Serie A as a coach.

“A long time has passed, I’ve had my experiences not just in Serie A, but also with Italy and in England. I am a coach who continues trying to improve in every way, trying to be better than I was a year ago or even a day ago. That is my objective and all together we want to cause as many problems as possible for the top teams.

“If you only see the result and three points, you don’t build anything. Our first half was our best of the season and I really did not expect the second half to be like that. Maybe I felt it in the locker room at half-time.

“I have lads who know where they need to improve and they will go home disappointed today at almost throwing away three points,” concluded Conte.