Conte: ‘It’s a different Napoli’ without Kvaratskhelia | OneFootball

Antonio Conte believes that there is little pont comparing the current Napoli side to the one that won the Scudetto two years, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s imminent move to PSG means that the Partenopei have a ‘different team’ to the one that won the league under Luciano Spalletti.

Kvaratskhelia is in Paris and has completed his medical tests with PSG ahead of a big-money move from Napoli.

Conte, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, explained that with Kvaratskhelia’s sale, and the departures of Victor Osimhen and Piotr Zielinski over the summer, Napoli are an entirely different team.

NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 03: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 03, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Conte: ‘It’s a different Napoli’ without Kvaratskhelia

“We’ve gained 47 points through great work, now we’re focusing on Kvara, but if we analyse objectively, this teams is now without three players compared to last year: Osimhen, Kvara and Zielinski, four with Kim (Min-Jae) going back to the Scudetto year,” Conte said, reported via TMW.

“Everyone can have their opinion and say that we’re stronger, weaker, that we need this or that. They say there is a backbone, but it’s a different Napoli now. With Kvara’s departure it’s a different team to the Scudetto-winning one.”

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)

Napoli was asked whether David Neres will be an adequate replacement for Kvaratskhelia, or whether the club have any ideas in mind when it comes to a replacement for the Georgian.

“You’ll have to ask the club, the directors. I reiterate that I came here to try and help Napoli in a moment of difficulty. I ‘married’ this club, this situation and have the pleasure of living an experience in a city like Naples, with all this passion. We try and do things in the best possible way.

“I always say that we have to be ambitious, otherwise there is no desire or determination. We have to keep our heads down and carry on pedalling, whatever happens. Today I’m focused on the team. We are doing something good and I have to protect that, these guys deserve it.”

Napoli face another tough test in Serie A on Saturday, as they face Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in Bergamo.