Antonio Conte Calls For Improved Goal-Scoring From Napoli To Alleviate Late Game Tension

Antonio Conte has called on his Napoli team to be more efficient in front of goal to avoid tense finishes. Napoli secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Venezia, with Giacomo Raspadori scoring the decisive goal late in the match. This win brought Napoli level with Serie A leaders Atalanta at 41 points. Romelu Lukaku missed a penalty earlier, and Conte wants his team to capitalise better on their opportunities.

Conte's competitive nature drives him to seek success constantly. "Even when I play cards with my daughter, I want to win," he stated. He emphasised his ambition by saying, "I would never sign on for minimum goals." Achieving 41 points was unexpected, but the team's progress is evident. Conte has now reached 500 Serie A points as a coach, showcasing his dedication and drive.

Napoli had 25 shots during the match, accumulating an expected goals value of 2.0. Despite this, they only managed one goal. Conte expressed satisfaction with the team's improvement but stressed the need for more goals to prevent last-minute stress. "If we can score a few more goals then we'd all be more relaxed and avoid a few heart attacks in the closing stages," he told DAZN.

Conte praised Raspadori for his contribution, marking his first goal of the season after struggling for regular starts. "We are [using] Raspadori [as an attacking midfielder] as a choice," Conte explained. He is working on developing Raspadori into an attacking midfielder to enhance game quality. Conte added, "I'm personally happy for Giacomo; he deserves it given the energy and seriousness which he puts into every training session."

The squad's development is evident as they continue to improve with each game. Avoiding injuries remains crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring both players and fans enjoy continued satisfaction from their performances.

The focus remains on refining their attacking strategy while maintaining defensive solidity. As Napoli progresses through the season, balancing these aspects will be key to sustaining their position at the top of Serie A.