Antonio Conte Reveals Message To Napoli Squad After 1-1 Serie A Draw Vs Inter Milan: ‘For The First Time, I Said It’

Napoli were able to establish a lead for themselves in the table relatively early on in the season.

However, there was always a sense that this advantage was relatively precarious. Even with Inter’s regular slip-ups in the league.

Wins over teams like AC Milan, Roma, Atalanta, and Juventus certainly gave Napoli more credibility in the title race.

However, it was the head-to-head matches against Inter that really set the tone in the title race.

In November, Inter hosted Napoli at the San Siro. The Nerazzurri were perhaps the better side then and unlucky to draw 1-1.

But in Naples in March it was a much different story. Inter took the lead in the first half, but Napoli were absolutely dominant in the second half, and deservedly snatched a point late on.

Napoli coach Antonio Conte recalled “the one against Inter” as the match that really made him believe the title was possible.

“When we cam behind. And even looked like we could’ve won it.”

“I said it publicly for the first time after that,” said Conte. “If we want it, we can do it.”

“That was a message for my players,” the Napoli coach continued. “I believed in it, and so they had to do so as well.”

“Then in football there’s always room for the unlikely. The draw against Genoa seriously risked compromising our Scudetto chase.”