Conte: ‘Let Napoli celebrate New Year’s in style’, Neres-Kvaratskhelia possibility | OneFootball

Antonio Conte wants Napoli to celebrate the New Year ‘in style’ with a victory over Venezia in Serie A on Sunday afternoon, as the Partenopei look to close off a promising start to the 2024-25 campaign.

Two matches remain of the first half of the season, and the Partenopei have just one more game before the beginning of 2025, however, they will be dependent on results elsewhere if they are to sit atop the Serie A table again by the turn of the new year.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 10, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Conte was full of optimism during his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game against Venezia, insisting that the team have put their underwhelming second-half performance of their 2-1 win over Genoa behind them.

“We’re looking at the glass half full, let’s focus on the first half. Of course a game has to be analysed in its entirety, as we did and as we always do, and since we have a responsible group of guys, we have taken the cue to improve,” Conte told the press, reported via TMW.

“The desire is always there, but these nudges help you raise the level.”

epa11751697 Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte (C) celebrates with players the 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Torino FC vs SSC Napoli at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 01 December 2024. EPA-EFE/Alessandro Di Marco

Conte also made it clear that there are no ‘minimum’ targets for Napoli this season, but the coach hopes that the title-challenging form continues into the second half of the season.

“I never like to set minimum goals, those who know me know that. We all know what our goals are and where we started from. But I never set minimum targets, we have to continue doing what we are doing.

“38 points is a lot, considering our start. Of course we want to cement ourselves and continue improving.

“We hope to close out 2024 with another thing for us and our fans to celebrate. Let’s celebrate New Year’s Eve in style. It’s been an intense five months.

“This is a beautiful, passionate club, coaching in Napoli really gives you a lot, but it’s also quite demanding in various aspects.”

Conte explains Neres-Kvaratskhelia possibility for Napoli

Conte was also asked if there is a possibility of seeing David Neres and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the starting line-up together in the near future.

Napoli’s forward David Neres celebrates a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs Como 1907 at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 04 October 2024. EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

He replied: “Everything’s always possible, anyone can be part of Napoli’s starting XI. There are more defensive teams, some more attacking, you have to make a lot of evaluations.

“We are talking about players who have the ability to make the difference. In the last two it was Matteo with David (Neres), sooner or later, you could also see David with Khvicha (Kvaratskhelia), but that doesn’t mean anyone’s done anything wrong.

That could potentially happen as early as Sunday, given Politano’s condition.

“Matteo had an intestinal problem yesterday, he trained today and we will evaluate carefully.

NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Matteo Politano of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Napoli and Parma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona 31, 2024 in Napoli, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

And, when asked if he has any predictions for the Serie A table come the end of the 2024-25 campaign, Conte said: “The first half of the season hasn’t even finished yet, it’s a bit risky, there are lots of things to think about. There are two games left in the first half of the season, still more than 63 points up for grabs. I was always good at maths,” he joked.

“The goal has to be to get points and cause some trouble .That is the primary objective. We are working hard and want to continue growing.”