Naples, Italy – Aurelio De Laurentiis, President and owner of SSC Napoli, has publicly reaffirmed his confidence in head coach Antonio Conte, despite the team’s recent inconsistent form and a setback in the Serie A title race.
De Laurentiis issued a statement late Monday expressing his full support for Conte, who took charge of the team in July 2024. The statement comes after Napoli’s recent 2-0 defeat against Bologna, a result that saw them relinquish their top spot in the league standings.
“I am proud to have a true professional like Antonio Conte by my side, alongside Napoli and the players,” De Laurentiis stated. “He is a man capable of dedicating every second of his life to his profession with great generosity. This is the most important guarantee that can be offered today to a club, its players, and its demanding fans, like those of Napoli.”
The statement aims to quell speculation surrounding Conte’s future, which arose following the Bologna defeat. Conte himself expressed frustration with the team’s performance, stating, “We need to do something because I don’t want to accompany a dead man.” He took full responsibility for the current situation, alluding to a decline in the team’s performance compared to last season’s Scudetto-winning campaign.
Conte had previously criticized his players, citing a lack of the “mental spirit” that characterized the team last season. The absence of key players, including star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is sidelined with an injury until January, has also been noted.
Napoli has suffered five defeats in all competitions since August, matching the total number of losses they experienced throughout the entirety of last season. The Partenopei are currently fourth in Serie A, two points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
Napoli is scheduled to face Atalanta on the 22nd of this month, following the international break.
