Napoli manager Antonio Conte voiced his frustration after his injury-hit squad narrowly secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina, claiming the relentless fixture schedule is taking an unacceptable toll on his players.
Injuries Mounting
Napoli’s squad is struggling with a series of injuries, with Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Matteo Politano, and goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic all sidelined. Matters worsened when captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo had to be stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Conte Speaks Out
“There’s not much we can say, it’s game upon game upon game,” Conte told DAZN. “We have to keep using players who ought to be rested and yet can’t. It leads to these situations.”
He added: “Playing all these matches kills the players and kills football. If we have to play 60 games per year, we need a bigger squad, otherwise it’s suicide.”
Serious Injury Concerns
Conte expressed concern over Di Lorenzo’s injury, suggesting potential damage to the cruciate ligament. “The sensation is he’s done serious damage to his knee. It’s nasty,” he said.
Managing With Limited Resources
Despite the challenges, Conte praised his team’s performance. “We are talking about a team trying to do its best with what we have at our disposal. Fortunately, we picked up these points, but if the season had started today with this squad, what position do you think Napoli would be challenging for? Be realistic.”
Conte concluded by highlighting his players’ efforts to plug the gaps: “Once again, there weren’t many options on the bench. These lads are doing extraordinary things.”