Antonio Conte is one of the candidates to replace Luciano Spalletti at Napoli and Lorenzo Bettoni looks at three ways the Serie A champions could line up under the ex-Italy international.
We are still in the early stages, but one thing seems crystal clear. Spalletti will leave Napoli after terminating a 33-year wait for the Scudetto. The Certaldo-born coach is no longer on good terms with President Aurelio De Laurentiis, and his departure will likely be confirmed at the end of the season.
Conte has been mentioned as one of the potential successors of Spalletti. The ex-Tottenham boss has won four Serie A titles as a coach. Although his wages in North London are not in line with the Partenopei’s salary policy, his reputation as a serial Scudetto winner makes him a credible candidate for the role.
It is widely known that Conte and Spalletti usually rely on different tactics. The former Juventus and Inter coach often uses a three-man defence with a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system while Spalletti usually picks a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.
This would already be a big transformation for the Partenopei, but their approach and mentality would also change with Conte in charge. Romelu Lukaku admitted last week that Inter won the title under the ex-midfielder in 2020-21 thanks to counter-attacks, while Spalletti’s Napoli have conquered the Scudetto this term in a different fashion, by dominating possession and with high pressing, which, at times, Conte teams also do.
So, how could Conte adapt his philosophy to the current Napoli squad, provided that all their stars remain at the Stadio Maradona beyond the summer?
A 3-4-3 system may be the most obvious option with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left, Matteo Politano or Hirving Lozano on the right, and Victor Osimhen in attack. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo could either play in a three-man defence, something he has already experienced by training with Italy national team at Coverciano, or as a right wing-back when Napoli need a more defensive approach.
With Kim Min-jae and Amir Rrahmani completing a three-man defence, Mario Rui and Mathias Olivera would be Conte’s options at left wing-back, while one between Piotr Zielinski and Stanislav Lobotka may lose the starting spot close to André Zambo Anguissa in central midfield.
All three central midfielders would start if Conte picks a 3-5-2 formation, but in this case, Kvara’s role would change seeing the Georgian star playing on the left wing or, more likely, partnering Osimhen in attack with fewer defensive duties.
Tuesday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested Conte could even return to a 4-2-4 system which he often used at the beginning of his coaching career, getting Serie A promotions with Bari and Siena. In this case, it’s easy to predict Giacomo Raspadori would become a regular starter, but a midfield with only Anguissa and one between Lobotka and Zielinski may be too soft for Conte’s liking.
While De Laurentiis is searching for the best replacement for Spalletti, hoping to bring more trophies to the Stadio Maradona, these are Conte’s possible options with the current Napoli squad. However, if some of their stars leave in the summer, it won’t be difficult to foresee the first complaints from the demanding coach.
Conte’s Napoli options
Napoli (3-4-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo (Ostigard), Kim, Rrahmani (Juan Jesus); Politano (Di Lorenzo), Anguissa, Lobotka (Zielinski), Olivera (Mario Rui); Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli (3-5-2): Meret; Di Lorenzo (Ostigard), Kim, Rrahmani (Juan Jesus); Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Olivera (Mario Rui); Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen.
Napoli (4-2-4): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Olivera (Mario Rui); Anguissa, Lobotka (Zielinski); Politano (Lozano), Raspadori (Simeone), Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.