Napoli secured a crucial victory over Cagliari on Saturday, continuing their strong form and applying pressure to the Serie A leaders. A solitary goal from Scott McTominay proved decisive, giving Antonio Conte’s side their fourth consecutive win and temporarily moving them ahead of AC Milan in the league standings. Although Conte refrained from discussing a title challenge directly, his post-match comments suggested a growing belief within the team.
The match, played at the Unipol Domus stadium in Cagliari, saw Napoli dominate possession but struggle to convert their opportunities. Conte acknowledged the team’s imperfections, stating, “We made a few too many mistakes, we were a bit sloppy and could have controlled the game better. Cagliari weren’t pressing and were waiting for us to make an error.” Despite the less-than-clinical performance, the three points were vital as Napoli aim to secure Champions League qualification.
Conte emphasized the importance of maintaining a solid defense, a characteristic displayed against Cagliari, who failed to register a single shot on target. “We need to keep a clean sheet. Cagliari didn’t even have a shot on goal today,” he noted. “Being able to defend well as a team, attacking with 11 and defending with 11, is crucial. There was great application from the players. They understood the importance of the match and performed well.”
Looking ahead to the international break, Conte expressed a cautious optimism. “We’re going into the break with three points and we’ll wait to see how the others play. We’ve gained another three points towards Champions League qualification. We’ve been extraordinary over these past seven months. Now we need to secure a spot in the Champions League, and then, inevitably, you look ahead, and no one can stop you.”
The victory wasn’t without its concerns for Conte, however. He highlighted the need for key players to regain full fitness following recent injuries. “Anguissa and McTominay don’t have the same sharpness yet,” he admitted. “I saw a lot of quality in De Bruyne, which is why I left him on for the full 90 minutes. Lobo also struggled a bit. After the break, we need to get Rrahmani and Di Lorenzo back, while Neres’ recovery will be much more tricky after his operation.”
Expanding on his tactical approach in a post-match press conference, Conte explained, “We knew the importance of these three points. We needed to get them before the break, and they consolidate our position for Champions League qualification. We were good at taking control of the game early on, but we could have been more qualitative in the first half. In the second half, we pushed for a second goal, but we needed to be more effective, more ruthless, and more clinical. Otherwise, anything can happen in the last five minutes. We were good, and I’m happy with what we’re doing.”
Conte also praised the team’s overall performance over the past seven months, acknowledging the challenges they’ve overcome. “We’ve done something extraordinary in these seven months, managing to stay near the top despite everything. The double pivot? It’s not new. How we play can change the personnel, but the concepts remain the same. When you have two specific playmakers, you lose some physicality, but you might gain more quality in possession.”
The clean sheet was a particularly satisfying aspect of the victory for Conte. “I’m happy with the win and the fact that we didn’t concede a goal. We won before the break and can enjoy these 15 days before facing Milan. We finally didn’t concede, also because we didn’t allow any shots on goal, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal.”
Napoli’s next challenge comes after the international break with a highly anticipated match against AC Milan. The fixture will be a crucial test of their title credentials and a chance to further close the gap on league leaders Inter, coached by Simone Inzaghi. The pressure is mounting on both teams as the Serie A season reaches its climax, and every point will be vital in the race for the Scudetto and Champions League qualification.
The win against Cagliari sees Napoli with 53 points, six points behind Inter and one point ahead of Milan. The team will be looking to build on this momentum and continue their push for a top-four finish. With key players returning from injury and Conte’s tactical adjustments taking effect, Napoli are well-positioned to make a strong challenge in the final stretch of the season.
As Conte stated, the team is focused on “guardiamo chi c’è davanti” – looking at those ahead. The next few weeks will be critical as Napoli navigate a challenging schedule and strive to achieve their goals. The fans will be hoping to see their team continue to perform at a high level and mount a serious challenge for the Serie A title.
