TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Antonio Conte, head coach of SSC Napoli, looks on before the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Napoli coach Antonio Conte warns that “the storm is not over and it won’t be soon” as the Partenopei’s injury crisis will drag on for a few more weeks: “I hope the fans are close to the team.”
Napoli suffered a 3-0 away defeat against Juventus on Sunday, leaving the Bianconeri just one point behind them in the standings.
The Partenopei have been dealing with an injury crisis for several months, and last night’s match was no exception, as the defending Serie A champions traveled to the Allianz Stadium without ten first-team players.
Napoli’s never-ending injury crisis
The list of absentees included Kevin De Bruyne, David Neres, Amir Rrahmani, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
“Even those who were supposed to return have slowed down their return. It’s difficult. What I told the boys is that no one gets off the ship,” Conte said at a post-match press conference attended by Football Italia on Sunday.
“The ship is at sea in the middle of a storm, but no one gets off. We all have to know how to handle this moment well, which has been going on for a while. The storm has not ended, and it won’t soon, so let’s all prepare, and what we must do is not lose confidence, not lose confidence in ourselves, not lose enthusiasm. The same things that have differentiated us until now, because until now extraordinary things have been done, dealing with very serious situations.”
Conte: Napoli’s emergency will not end tomorrow
Napoli will play their final match of the Champions League league stage on Wednesday, hosting Chelsea at the Stadio Maradona, so how will they prepare for their next European match?
“Let the players rest, help them recover, prepare for the game a little through video and, at the same time, we also have to touch on the psychological aspects,” Conte responded.
“Let’s not forget that before today our last game that we lost was against Udinese. We even won the emergency Super Cup, although now it has gotten worse. The atmosphere has to give the boys important support; it is too easy to be a fan only when things are going well. It is a difficult time, and I hope that the fans are close to the team, in good times and bad.
“There is a Champions League match, there is an Italian Cup. It doesn’t end tomorrow. The problem is that the emergency doesn’t end tomorrow either. We have to be good. United, compact, a single body. We need positive emergency energy, especially from abroad.”
