Napoli coach Antonio Conte was not overly worried by his side’s 0-0 draw with lower league opponents Modena in the Coppa Italia on Saturday night, but did appear slightly frustrated when asked about the club’s activity in the transfer market.
Conte admitted that Napoli ‘weren’t precise enough’ against the Serie B side, but was pleased to advance, even if it meant doing it on penalties.
When asked if Napoli could see any new signings come in before the start of the Serie A season next weekend, the coach admitted that it is difficult to convince top-level players to join Napoli with no European football in the upcoming season.
He hinted that the club, in their current situation, have to make it up with ‘other parameters’, but said that it is difficult to speak about the specifics of offers and figures in public.
Here’s what the Partenopei coach had to say after Saturday’s stalemate with Modena …
Conte: ‘Napoli not precise enough’
“We often talk about possession and I don’t agree, but since everybody talks about it, I see 75% possession today, 28 shots on goal. But if you keep the ball so much and take shots on goal without much effectiveness, you have to think a bit more about what you’re doing,” Conte said in his post-match press conference.
Summarising the offerings against Modena, he added: “We weren’t precise enough.”
Still, there are some positives to take.
“It was an interesting match anyway, it will be useful for us on counter-attacks. We took a couple of risks in our counters, that’s normal, it’s part of the process.
“I would have liked to have scored a few more goals for the fans. The boys gave everything, that’s enough for me. Now let’s start the league season with three points and then we’ll continue to work hard.
Conte on Napoli transfer business
“I am satisfied with the lads’ commitment, with their desire, but there are some objective situations that I struggle to talk about. If you analyse objectively, you know the answer. I am not here to say what needs to be done, you can see the reality.
“I hear people say this squad is second-favourite for the Scudetto, but we have12 players missing, more than half the squad has left.
He added that it ‘bothers’ him when people suggest that he should be satisfied with his business so far in the transfer window.
“We have to respect certain parameters, the cost of the transfer, the salary and the third parameter being that the player wants to come here, like I did, even though they know there is no European football. There isn’t much attraction so you have to excite the player in other ways.
“There are some objective things (that need looking at), and we continue to work with passion and desire.”
Coppa Italia: Napoli 0-0 Modena – Partenopei scrape through on penalties