Antonio Conte Encourages Napoli To Maintain Humility Despite Strong Scudetto Aspirations

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Antonio Conte expressed caution about Napoli's Serie A title chances after their 2-1 comeback win over Juventus. Randal Kolo Muani scored first, but Frank Anguissa equalised with a header before Romelu Lukaku secured victory with a penalty in the 69th minute. This win placed Napoli six points ahead at the top, although Inter, in second place, have two games in hand and face Lecce next.

Napoli's current form is impressive, achieving at least 17 wins in their first 22 Serie A matches for only the third time. They previously reached this milestone in the 2017-18 season when they finished second and during their last Scudetto-winning campaign in 2022-23. Conte's team has also won seven consecutive league games for the first time since early 2023 under Luciano Spalletti.

Despite matching their points tally from two years ago, Conte urged his players to remain humble. "We must never extinguish the enthusiasm because it's our lifeblood. However, we must stay grounded because what we've done so far is extraordinary," he stated. He highlighted that this achievement came without key players like Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Piotr Zielinski.

Conte praised his team's resilience despite challenges such as transfers and injuries. "It's nice to see that, despite the difficulties with the (transfer) market and injuries, nothing changes," he said. The victory against Juventus was particularly satisfying as they had not lost a Serie A game this season under Thiago Motta.

Conte remains cautious about transfer activities despite Napoli's strong form. The club has permanently signed Luis Hasa and brought Simone Scuffet and Philip Billing on loan. They are also interested in Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho. However, Conte emphasised focusing on current players' performances rather than potential new signings.

"It's not just about bringing someone in ... Everyone is good at saying who is missing," Conte remarked. He stressed his role as head of the group requires him to concentrate on making a difference with existing players rather than speculating on transfers.

Napoli's recent success includes defeating Juventus from a losing position for the first time since September 2021, also with a 2-1 scoreline at home. Conte noted the match intensity resembled European competition levels with high rhythms and full-field pressure.

The team has responded well after finishing tenth last season with 53 points during a poor defence of their Scudetto title. "Today, though, we beat a great team that had left us far behind last year," Conte added, highlighting their progress compared to previous performances against Juventus.

Despite Napoli's positive run, Conte remains focused on maintaining momentum without getting carried away by transfer speculation or external expectations. His confidence lies in his current squad's ability to compete effectively throughout the season.