Antonio Conte has explained what it will take to see Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and summer signing David Neres line up in the same Napoli team together, revealing that it will depend on how opposition teams decide to line up against the Partenopei.
Conte explained his tactical thinking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Serie A trip to Lecce, where the coach grew up and spent the early days of his playing career.
Conte explains what needs to happen for Kvaratskhelia and Neres to start together
Asked what it will take to see Kvaratskhelia and Neres on the wings for Napoli, Conte explained that he doesn’t feel comfortable doing so against teams who play with five across the midfield, due to the numerical inferiority that would cause for his team.
“Yes, you asked last time about Kvara-Neres,” Conte said to one journalist during his presser. “It’s important to remember that when you play against a team that blocks off five channels, there is a need to drop a winger into midfield, like Politano, or drop a midfielder deeper to create a five, like other teams do.
“We could also play Lobotka or Gilmour deeper so that there’s not a numerical inferiority. If team’s don’t line up against us like that, then there’s a possibility of seeing Kvara and Neres together, but balance is the basis of everything.”
Kvaratskhelia is currently Napoli’s leading goalscorer in Serie A, with four from his first eight appearances. Romelu Lukaku sits just behind him in second.
Neres, is level with Kvaratskhelia for goal involvements in all competitions, though, and given that he has usually had to settle for a place on the bench, his contribution record this season is quite impressive.
From just eight appearances, seven in Serie A and one in the Coppa Italia, the Brazilian has collected just 153 minutes of action, but has come up with two goals and four assists in that time, which means that he is averaging a goal involvement every 25.5 minutes.
Conte explains lack of Napoli rotations, Kvaratskhelia and Neres, plus Lecce return