Antonio Conte’s highly anticipated debut as Napoli’s coach ended in a disastrous 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi stadium on August 18, 2024. This marks Conte’s first-ever loss in his opening Serie A match as a coach, breaking his previous record of five wins and one draw. The defeat has raised immediate concerns about Napoli’s performance and Conte’s ability to turn the team around after their disappointing 10th place finish last season.Conte took full responsibility for the defeat and offered a heartfelt apology to Napoli fans. ‘We should humbly ask for forgiveness from the Neapolitan people who follow us with passion,’ Conte stated. He acknowledged that the team ‘melted like snow in the sun’ after conceding the first goal, describing the second-half performance as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘difficult to evaluate’.The match also saw key player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia leave due to injury, further complicating Napoli’s situation. Conte emphasized that the team’s issues go beyond individual players or the transfer market, stating, ‘The problem is not with the market, it’s with the team’s attitude. We need to have a different attitude, with more personality and more will’.While Napoli struggles, Hellas Verona celebrated what their coach Paolo Zanetti called a ‘historic’ victory. As Conte faces the challenge of rebuilding Napoli’s confidence and performance, he remains committed to the task ahead, saying, ‘I came to Napoli with great enthusiasm and great desire. I can put myself at the disposal of the club in any situation, if I can help Napoli, I will’.
Key points
- Antonio Conte’s debut as Napoli’s coach ended in a 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona, his first-ever loss in an opening Serie A match.
- Conte took full responsibility for the defeat and apologized to Napoli fans, acknowledging the team’s poor performance.
- Key player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left the match due to injury, adding to Napoli’s challenges.
- Conte emphasized the need to work on the team’s attitude and personality rather than focusing solely on transfers.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Antonio Conte as Napoli’s coach, one article incorrectly refers to him as ‘Gennaro Conte’.
This appears to be an error as all other sources consistently name him as Antonio Conte.
