Stanislav Lobotka believes this ‘can be a special season’ for Napoli under coach Antonio Conte, who will ‘take us to a higher level.’
The midfielder is currently on international duty with Slovakia and spoke at a press conference about his experiences in Naples.
“This can be a special season, but we are only at the beginning. Compared to last year, when we perhaps lacked a bit of hunger after winning the Scudetto, this year is different,” said Lobotka.
Conte raising Lobotka’s level at Napoli
It was a chaotic time at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after lifting the Serie A trophy, as they went through several different coaches and failed to even qualify for European football.
That could work to their advantage this time under Conte, as the new coach has a full week to prepare for every Serie A game.
“Conte brought fresh ideas and a different atmosphere, he is pushing us to a superior level both physically and mentally,” continued Lobotka.
“So far, the results are on our side and this is how we want to continue, the coach can take us to a higher level.”
Lobotka turns 30 next month and first joined Napoli for €23m from Celta Vigo in January 2020.
The Partenopei are currently top of the Serie A table with 16 points from seven rounds, despite losing the opening game 3-0 to Hellas Verona.
In the last six league games, they played five victories and a 0-0 draw away to Juventus.
During that spell, Napoli scored 14 goals and conceded only two.