Antonio Conte Praises Napoli's Strong Response In Their Deserved Victory Over Fiorentina

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Antonio Conte praised his Napoli team for their resilience in a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina. After taking a two-goal lead, they conceded quickly but managed to secure the win. Romelu Lukaku scored first, followed by Giacomo Raspadori. Albert Gudmundsson reduced the deficit, yet Napoli held firm to end their winless streak in Serie A.

Napoli's triumph marked their first league win since January 25 against Juventus. Despite Inter Milan extending their lead with a 3-2 victory over Monza, Napoli stayed competitive in the title race. Conte expressed satisfaction with his team's performance and response, acknowledging the anxiety that can arise after conceding a goal.

Conte highlighted the importance of managing pressure and maintaining composure after conceding. "In a growth path, it is normal that after creating so much for 60-65 minutes and getting to 2-0, conceding a goal can generate excessive anxiety," he stated. The players were commended for keeping possession and avoiding dangerous situations.

The match statistics reflected Napoli's dominance, with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.88 from 19 shots compared to Fiorentina's 1.14. Lukaku played a crucial role, contributing to five goals in his last four Serie A matches against Fiorentina. He joined Mateo Retegui, Marcus Thuram, and Ademola Lookman as players scoring at least five goals both home and away this season.

Despite selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January and dealing with injuries to Andre Anguissa and David Neres, Napoli remains unexpectedly in the title race. Conte acknowledged these challenges: "The team passes off as normal that which is not." He praised his squad for adapting well under difficult circumstances.

Conte urged his team to be more clinical in front of goal despite their deserved win. "We scored less than we produced," he noted. He emphasised the need for efficiency as dominating play without converting chances could lead to dropped points.

Conte also addressed tactical suggestions from outside sources: "Next time have confidence and let me do things without saying to play with 4-3-3 or anything else." His focus remains on guiding Napoli through challenges while maintaining their competitive edge.