Napoli's Antonio Conte Stresses Importance Of Continued Development Despite Serie A Lead

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Antonio Conte acknowledges that Napoli still has significant work ahead, despite leading Serie A. After a narrow Coppa Italia win over Modena on penalties, Conte's team lost 3-0 to Verona in his first league match. However, Napoli has remained unbeaten since, winning six of their next seven games and drawing only against Juventus. Despite this form, Conte remains cautious about overconfidence.

Conte emphasises the ongoing development process at Napoli. "We are with the 'work in progress' sign," he stated before their game against Empoli. He believes it's crucial not to underestimate the journey required during this reconstruction phase. Victories need to be built on solid foundations that endure over time, according to Conte.

The international break has posed challenges for Napoli, with midfielder Stanislav Lobotka injured while playing for Slovakia. Lobotka has been a key player under Conte, starting all seven league matches this season and being a regular last season as well.

Despite Lobotka's absence, Conte is confident in Billy Gilmour's readiness for his first Serie A start. "It's not a very serious problem but we have to face it and recover," said Conte. He expressed regret over Lobotka's injury but sees it as an opportunity for Gilmour to showcase his abilities.

Gilmour has been training consistently since the beginning of the season, and Conte believes his characteristics are similar to Lobotka's. If Gilmour were unavailable, the situation would be different, but his presence provides continuity in midfield.

Tough Test Against Empoli

Napoli faces a challenging away match against Empoli, who have lost only once this season and boast Serie A's second-best defensive record with just four goals conceded in seven games. Empoli suffered their sole defeat against Lazio at the Olimpico before the break.

"We are talking about a team that suffered their only defeat before the break," Conte noted. He highlighted Empoli's spirit of sacrifice as a crucial factor in their success and expects Napoli to match or exceed that level of commitment.

Conte insists on maintaining high standards of effort from his players. "I will not tolerate a spirit of sacrifice inferior to that of Empoli," he declared. This determination is vital as Napoli aims to stay at the top of Serie A amidst tough competition.