Conte Applauds Napoli’s Ruthless Attitude in 3-0 Win Over Empoli
Naples — Napoli manager Antonio Conte was full of praise for his team’s mindset and discipline after they secured a commanding 3-0 victory over struggling Empoli on Monday night, keeping the pressure firmly on league leaders Inter Milan in the Serie A title race.
With just six matches left in the season, Napoli showed no signs of slowing down. Despite a narrow 1-0 lead at halftime, the hosts stepped up a gear in the second half and put the match beyond doubt, much to the delight of the home crowd at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Speaking after the game, Conte shared what he told his players during the break. “I asked them to come out for the second half with the mindset that it was still 0-0 — to stay sharp and win the half. Their response was spot on,” he said. “We played with intensity and focus throughout. I believe the fans saw a very mature performance tonight.”
Napoli’s goals came courtesy of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku, who were both instrumental in the win. The Scottish midfielder found the net twice, both times assisted by Lukaku, who also got on the scoresheet himself. But Conte was quick to shift the spotlight from individual brilliance to the collective spirit of the squad.
“Lukaku and McTominay were excellent, no doubt,” Conte admitted. “But this wasn’t about just two players. The win is the outcome of a team that has worked tirelessly, that responds every time we ask something of them. It’s a group victory — everyone had a part to play.”
The only negative of the evening was a possible injury concern. Defender Juan Jesus had to come off after feeling discomfort, raising fresh worries for a side already coping without Alessandro Buongiorno, who is recovering from an adductor issue.
“Juan said he felt something muscular, and he didn’t sound very hopeful,” Conte said. “As for Buongiorno, we’re going to monitor him closely. He’s due to rejoin training tomorrow and we’ll see how he reacts.”
With the win, Napoli remain three points behind Inter, keeping the title race alive as the season approaches its dramatic conclusion. Conte’s men will now look to carry this momentum into their final fixtures, where every match could prove decisive.
