Conte: ‘Napoli didn’t deserve defeat, but it’s not a fluke’

Antonio Conte feels Napoli ‘didn’t deserve’ to lose 3-2 to Bologna, but also admits it is ‘evidently not a fluke’ if they keep going behind early. ‘We’ve got to secure Champions League football.’

The Partenopei came into this match knowing that a victory would guarantee Champions League qualification with two rounds to spare.

They went 2-0 down to goals from Federico Bernardeschi and Riccardo Orsolini, managed to claw their way back with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alisson Santos, but capitulated in stoppages to an acrobatic Jonathan Rowe volley.

“When you press, you’ve got to do it properly, because if you only do it half-way then you just end up running around for nothing,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

“We could’ve been more determined in the pressing, but it wasn’t the first time this season we were 2-0 down, so that means it’s not a fluke. Evidently we need to be more determined in the initial approach, because it keeps happening.

“We managed to get it back on track, tried to win and pushed hard, but if you can’t win, then you should at least try not to lose. I don’t think we deserved to lose, but these things happen.

“There are two games to go, we’ve got to recharge the batteries, secure Champions League football in these two matches and try to do our best.

“I am not upset with the performance, I saw the lads wanted to get the job done tonight, but at times there’s a twist in the tale.”

Now Napoli are by no means sure of a top four finish, as they are just two points clear of Juventus in third, three points ahead of Milan and Roma, and even Como are in there five points adrift.

Rasmus Hojlund was repeatedly told off from the touchline for wandering offside, but is working a lot harder than he did when first arriving from Manchester United.

“Let us not forget, he is the only striker we’ve got in the squad right now, so he’s playing constantly,” noted Conte.

“I wish I had the chance to give him some rest. He’s young, has a lot of energy, there are moments when you need to attack the space, others when you hold up the ball. He is only 23, works hard for the team and has margin for improvement.”

Alisson Santos impressed when running at defenders, so can he fill the gap left in this squad by the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain?

“Alisson is improving, we are trying to use him in a way that can make the most of his characteristics. He arrived from Sporting, where he had basically never started a match, so it required a lot of work and he has improved a lot,” replied Conte.

“The other problem is once the defenders get to know him, it all becomes more difficult.”