Napoli release statement on Antonio Conte as ex-Chelsea boss approaches familiar end game

Ex-Chelsea and Spurs boss Antonio Conte looks like a dead man walking after slamming his players after Sunday’s defeat at Bologna and claiming: “I don’t want to accompany a dead man”

Antonio Conte won the title at Chelsea in his first season but was sacked a year later after his clash with Diego Costa. At Tottenham, the Italian was given an 18-month contract and immediately led them back into the Champions League. But he was gone after 16 months following his infamous post-match rant at Southampton where he branded his stars “selfish”.

“If they want to continue in this way, they can change the manager, a lot of managers, but the situation cannot change,” he claimed.

Spurs changed their manager but Conte is still the same. Fast-forward two years and after his attack on his players following Sunday’s defeat at Bologna, Napoli issued a statement on Wednesday stating he will not return to training until Monday and will remain at home in Turin.

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His assistant Cristian Stellini, who took over as caretaker for four games at Tottenham after his departure, took training.

The Napoli statement read: “Mister Antonio Conte, as already planned and agreed for some time with the club, will return to SSC Napoli Training Center on Monday November 17.”

The reigning Serie A champions return to action against Atalanta on Saturday November 22.

But in the ancient Greek city of Naples, it seems like history is repeating itself for Conte. Despite topping the table earlier in the season, the former Italy coach has shown repeated anger and frustration while the players tire of his rigid training methods.

He won the Scudetto in his first season with Napoli after recruiting Romelu Lukaku for £30million along with Scottish midfield duo Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour but still hinted at leaving in the summer. Now, after bringing in Kevin De Bruyne and then Rasmus Hojlund, they are down to fourth in Serie A and suffering their fifth defeat of the season at the Stadio Renata Dall’Ara.

Two of those defeats have come in the Champions League – at Manchester City and the 6-2 thrashing at PSV Eindhoven last month – to see them sit in 24th place.

After losing at Bologna – Napoli’s third consecutive game without a goal – Conte ranted: “We must do something. I don’t want to accompany a dead man; this must be clear. If we want to do something together, it’s fine; otherwise, we all have to take responsibility. I always do it.

‘I don’t like what I’m seeing, and eventually I’m the first one to take responsibility. Sometimes it’s easy to hide behind others, but until we have time, we must all take responsibility.

“I don’t see chemistry and a team that wants to go beyond obstacles. I see everyone thinking about their own problems, but if we want to change this trend, we still have time.”

Four Serie A coaches have been replaced in the last fortnight, including Patrick Viera at Genoa and former Saints boss Ivan Juric at Atalanta – his third sacking in 12 months.

But Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis issued a long statement on social meda insisting Conte would not be the fifth. “I’ve come across this ‘fairytale’ of Conte’s resignation,” De Laurentiis wrote. “There has always been a special harmony between myself and Conte.

“To the supporters who have read some of this nonsense, I say: I’m proud to have a real man like Antonio Conte by my side, and by the side of Napoli, and by the side of the players. He sacrifices every second of his life for his profession, with extreme generosity and dedication.

“This is the biggest guarantee one can give to a club, to the players and to the demanding fans of a club like Napoli.”

But the only guarantee with Conte is that he will move on sooner rather than later. Lukaku, who helped win the scudetto for Conte’s Inter Milan in 2021, scored 14 goals last season but has not played this season with a thigh strain suffered in August.

Hojlund was signed on loan from Manchester United and scored four times in his first six games but has not found the net for his club since October 5. The Belgium striker hopes to be back for the Supercoppa Final Four tournament in Saudi Arabia next month. But will Conte still be there when he returns?

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