Antonio Conte Accepts Blame For Napoli's Unexpected Defeat To Como In Serie A

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Antonio Conte accepted responsibility for Napoli's unexpected 2-1 loss to Como, which has intensified their pursuit of Inter in the Serie A title race. This defeat ended Napoli's 11-match unbeaten streak in the league, leaving them second with 56 points, just one point behind Inter. The loss has put pressure on Napoli as they aim to reclaim the top spot.

Napoli managed to equalise after Amir Rrahmani's own goal gave Como an early lead in the seventh minute. However, they struggled in the second half, allowing Assane Diao to score a decisive goal in the 77th minute for Cesc Fabregas' team. "It's inevitable that the second half didn't satisfy me and it didn't satisfy anyone," Conte remarked.

"I'm sorry we lost it on hunger and nastiness," Conte continued. "Sorry, but surely we must all together try to understand why." He acknowledged Como's efforts and noted that Napoli now faces pressure due to their own performance. The team needs to learn from this experience and improve their mental toughness.

Conte expressed his disappointment, stating, "We have to take steps and lick our wounds but we are sorry because you can lose tactically but not in terms of hunger and nastiness. I am responsible." He emphasised that the team must maintain focus and intensity throughout matches to avoid similar setbacks.

Upcoming Challenges for Napoli

"I'm not looking for excuses," Conte stated. "Today we did Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and it wasn't the first time." He admitted that when the team's focus wanes, anything can happen. Despite this setback, he stressed that it's crucial for Napoli to maintain their current standing by giving their best effort.

The victory was only Como's second over Napoli in Serie A history, with their last win dating back to November 1952. Napoli now faces a crucial match against Inter, which could be decisive in determining the outcome of this season's title race.