A Major Blow Ahead of the Title Defence
Napoli’s hopes for retaining their Serie A crown this season suffered an early blow when star striker Romelu Lukaku sustained a serious thigh injury during a pre-season friendly. The injury is expected to sideline him for several weeks, if not months. Despite this, head coach Antonio Conte made it clear that there is no room for excuses ahead of their first match against Sassuolo.
A Season of Overcoming Adversity
Conte reminded the media and fans of Napoli’s remarkable resilience last season. The team navigated significant upheaval—losing star forward Victor Osimhen early on and later selling key playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG—and still clinched the Scudetto.
“These guys have shown last year that they can cope with everything… what we have to do is not go after recriminations… to find the solution.”
That ability to adapt under pressure will be vital once again this season. Lukaku
Defending the Title: A First in Club History
Conte emphasized the historic nature of the challenge: Napoli has never successfully defended a league title. He warned against complacency, noting past struggles—even after winning the title, high expectations didn’t automatically translate to sustained success.
“When Napoli started as favourites … we finished 10th,” he recalled, highlighting the need to internalize the importance of performance over reputation.
Striker Shortage: A Tactical and Market Quandary
With Lukaku out, Napoli’s striking options are limited—chiefly reduced to newcomer Lorenzo Lucca. Conte acknowledged the issue but declined to dive into transfer market speculation, focusing instead on the squad’s readiness and mindset.
Meanwhile, reports suggest the club is eyeing reinforcements, including possibilities like Rasmus Hojlund, to address the offensive shortfall.
A Message of Accountability and Focus
Conte’s tone was resolute: this season’s challenges won’t be met with excuses. With rival teams strengthening, Napoli must rely on performance, adaptability, and unity—all traits Conte instilled during last season’s campaign—and apply them from the very first match.
In summary, Conte has positioned Napoli to embrace this adversity as a collective challenge rather than a setback. Drawing from their own history of overcoming departures and setbacks, the team enters the new season with the conviction that obstacles are opportunities—if met head-on, without excuses.
Lukaku
