The Italian coach first has a face-to-face meeting with the attacker, then on Dazn he responds decisively to the Nerazzurri president’s considerations on the penalty awarded to Di Lorenzo
Sparks on and off the pitch. Antonio Conte experienced the big match between Napoli and Inter (won 3-1 by his boys) with his usual enthusiasm, without sparing himself. The first episode in the 61st minute, with the Azzurri leading 2-1: Pio Esposito is ready to take over from Bonny and the home coach, who won the 19th Scudetto on Inter’s bench, has an initial argument with Dumfries, who fell to the ground after a tackle with Olivera. The Dutchman, although invited by his teammates sitting on the bench not to react, responds to Conte by approaching him face to face.
A turmoil breaks out that also has a negative protagonist Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine captain he goes towards his former coach and first makes him the “speak, speak” gesture. He is subsequently removed and always with his hand he makes a sign that can be “translated” as a “you’re scared, you’re scared” and from the lips it seems to say «cagòn» («coward»). Conte is booked because he responds by saying «I’m c…..», while the Argentine is pardoned by referee Mariani.
The precedent at Inter
A clash that brings to mind what happened on May 12, 2021. After yet another substitutionduring Inter-Roma at San Siro, the current Nerazzurri captain didn’t take it very well, kicking a bottle and provoking Conte’s reaction: «You have to kick yourself in the face Lautaro, do you understand? You have to kick yourself, do you understand? Phenomenon, phenomenon of…”, the scream of the Salento coach. «Let’s go inside, then we’ll see inside…», the response of the interested party, immediately reprimanded by Lele Oriali with little success: «I’ll see you inside, you mustn’t break it. Every time it’s the same in Bergamo, oh», always Lautaro Martinez. With Conte’s closing: «He has just started playing». The following day, peace was established between the two with a fake boxing match in Pinetina amidst the general laughter of those present. But evidently some grudges remained.
Conte attacks Marotta: «Are you talking about a penalty? I wouldn’t have allowed it.”
After the defeat, the president of Inter appears on Dazn’s microphones: «The penalty on Di Lorenzo? Napoli legitimized the victory in the last twenty minutes but the penalty episode was decisive and arose from an evaluation by the assistant. Once the VAR intervenes, once the assistant. The referee hadn’t blown his whistle and was well positioned, there couldn’t have been anyone better than him. This dynamic would have required the intervention of the VAR and the images would have provided clarity. From here the match took a particular turn.” Marotta’s criticism continues: «I am making an evaluation of what happened on the pitch, taking into account the reflections made by Rocchi. We must seek clarity and understand what “rigorino” means. I am for the centrality of the referee, but if an assistant takes over with a reduced perspective compared to that of the referee, the match director must not be influenced so easily.”
The reply was immediate Conteagain on Dazn: «Is Marotta talking about penalties? The difference between Napoli and Inter is this: they send Marotta and the senior managers as soon as they can. In our case I’m the one talking. Each team must make the correct evaluations and understand why they lost, without appealing to this. Creating alibis for the environment and the players is harmful, I wouldn’t have allowed it to a manager. With all the respect I have for him, I think it’s right that he leaves things to those who participated in the game. So he belittles the coach and that’s not good. I have never asked the managers to speak, I have always defended myself.”
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