Conte’s Guilty Verdict: Napoli Handed Torino a Win on a Silver Platter

Match Recap

Antonio Conte, Napoli’s head coach, facing questions after a 1-0 loss to Torino in the seventh round of Serie A, argued that his team unintentionally handed Torino victory by chasing an attractive display rather than securing the result. Napoli had been hit by injuries, with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund added to the list of absentees, joining Stanislav Lobotka, Amir Rahmani, Romelu Lukaku, and Nikita Kотовin? (names mirrored from the source). Matteo Politano and Alessandro Bongiorno came on as late substitutes. The decisive moment came when a curving effort from Politano struck the post, bounced in off Ny Lang, and the officials disallowed the goal for offside after a VAR check.

The only goal of the match arrived courtesy of Giovanni Simeone, a former Napoli striker, capitalizing on a defensive miscue by Gilmour to hand his old club the loss. The moment underscored Conte’s claim that Napoli essentially created Torino’s winner, rather than Torino finding a path to victory on their own merits.

Conte, speaking to Dazon, said: "We passed the ball well and created chances in the first half, but we were too focused on looking good. In essence, we created their goal." He added that energy rose after halftime but not enough, and that the club must stay patient as new signings adapt. He stressed the need to work as a unit and noted that with three games every week, there is little time for training, so improvement must come incrementally.

Regarding the goal that ruined Napoli’s afternoon, Conte remarked that the ball went in off a teammate after a defensive error, insisting that the break should not be hung on the defense alone. He also highlighted that Napoli’s pressing game places them in the opponent’s half, so occasional counterattacks are natural, and that the team must adjust to facing two-on-one situations more consistently.

On injuries, Conte explained that some players might have traveled with Napoli if he had intended to use them, but McTominay required stitches near the ankle after a clash. Hojlund had travelled in a fatigued state from international duty, which affected his quadriceps. Conte emphasized that playing every three days makes risk-taking less viable and that rotation is necessary to keep players fresh.

Counting the season’s injuries and shifts, Conte rejected labeling Napoli as the league’s most fortunate title contenders, noting that the squad has been rebalanced with new signings and that a few adjustments differed from last season. He closed by separating results from performance, commending Torino for seizing the moment and maintaining that Napoli controlled large portions of the match even as they chase better final outcomes.

Season Figures

This season Napoli returned to the Champions League after last season’s domestic title win. Since the campaign began, Napoli have secured five Serie A wins against Sassuolo, Cagliari, Fiorentina, Pisa, and Genoa, with two losses — to Milan and Torino — leaving them on 15 points and level with Roma in second place. In Europe, Napoli opened with a defeat at Manchester City but bounced back with a win against Sporting CP; they currently sit 19th in the group-stage standings and remain in the competition’s early phases.

Injury Updates & Squad Notes

Conte highlighted the strain of a packed schedule while highlighting the young players and new arrivals who will determine Napoli’s trajectory this season. He insisted there is no room for complacency, and that rest and resilience will be crucial as the team builds a sustainable path forward.

As Napoli look ahead to Champions League fixtures against Eindhoven and more domestic tests, Conte reaffirmed his belief in the squad’s potential to grow through adversity and maintain a long-term project rather than chasing quick-fix results.

Punchline time: If strategy were coffee, Napoli just ordered a latte—beautiful to look at, but the barista forgot to stamp the receipt. And if Conte’s plan is a joke, the punchline is a clean sheet that never materializes. Another zinger: coaching is a bit like a haircut—you walk out feeling lighter, but your opponents leave with a goal in their pocket. Now go drink some water, Napoli; the Three Days' Night Shift is real.