Napoli’s new manager Antonio Conte believes his side has turned a corner after securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Bologna in their Serie A home opener on Sunday. The win marked a crucial response for the team after their demoralizing 3-0 defeat against Hellas Verona the previous week.
Conte expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the significance of the victory. “Today we had a great responsibility, that of giving a great response after the second half in Verona,” Conte stated in a press conference. “I had no doubts, these guys are good guys. I see them working… and I got important answers. These are three points that are the start of our journey, my first three points as Napoli coach. I was emotional, I really cared about it. It’s a starting point, we know that we have a journey to make.”
The former Italy coach, who boasts a trophy-laden resume with four Serie A titles with Juventus and Inter Milan, along with a Premier League trophy with Chelsea, was entrusted with the task of reviving Napoli after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Conte emphasized the importance of building confidence and unity within the team. “We have to gain confidence and continue to give this sense of unity that we felt today,” he added. “This makes me happy, we hadn’t won for a long time and we did it against an important opponent. Now let’s think about Parma.”
The victory against Bologna marked the end of an eight-match winless streak for Napoli in the league. Their previous home win in Serie A dated back to early March, when they defeated Juventus 2-1 thanks to a last-minute goal by Giacomo Raspadori.
One of the key contributors to Napoli’s victory was winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who showcased his skills with a goal and an assist. “Becoming a father has given me great energy, I think I showed it on the pitch during the match,” Kvaratskhelia shared after the match. “I really wanted to get on the pitch and give my contribution to the cause to bring home a very important win. I am a footballer who always wants to learn new things, to acquire useful notions to continue my path of growth. And having Conte on the bench is certainly a guarantee. Let’s hope we can take great satisfaction throughout the whole championship.”
