Antonio Conte’s Tough Love: Even on Vacation, He Holds His Players to High Standards

Last season’s Italian champions, Napoli, under Antonio Conte, have clinched their fourth Scudetto, just two years after Luciano Spalletti led them to victory after a 33-year drought. However, Conte quickly expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s decision to sell Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain mid-season. He demanded a significant summer transfer window, threatening to leave if the club didn’t comply. In response, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis invested €83 million to bring in players like Sam Beukema, Noa Lang, Miguel Guitiérrez, and Luca Marianucci, along with securing Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer and loans for Rasmus Hojlund and Eljif Elmas.

Unfortunately for Conte, the start of the 2025/2026 season has been disastrous. Napoli lost their star striker, Romelu Lukaku, to a severe muscle injury in August, sidelining him for several months. Shortly after, Conte faced challenges with another key player, De Bruyne, whose performance began poorly, leading to outrage when he was substituted. Now, De Bruyne is out for approximately five months due to a serious hamstring injury. The team has also slipped to fourth place in Serie A, trailing Inter by two points, and has struggled in the Champions League.

Players Frustrated!

Currently, Napoli sits at 24th in the standings after notable defeats to Manchester City (0-2) and PSV (2-6), along with a disappointing draw against Eintracht Frankfurt (0-0). The situation worsened as Conte has encountered issues with summer signing Noa Lang and learned of Frank Anguissa’s thigh injury while playing for Cameroon, sidelining him until at least the end of January 2026. The atmosphere at Castel Volturno, Napoli’s training center, is tense, and it’s unlikely to improve soon. The players who remained during the international break expected some relief during Conte’s absence, but were disappointed.

According to La Repubblica, the head coach has strong backing from the president and has assigned assistant Cristian Stellini a rigorous training plan for the players. Daily training now includes three hours of intensive sessions; some days even feature double workouts to ensure continuity. This has been interpreted as a clear message to those not fully committed.

Reports indicate rising tensions within the squad, exacerbated by Anguissa’s injury, as many attribute the recent spate of injuries to the strenuous training regimen set by Conte. Despite the pressure, Conte has remained firm on maintaining his approach, and his return to training next Monday promises to be eventful!