Lukaku’s Goal Boosts Our Confidence, But We Are Still Vulnerable

Antonio Conte, the Napoli coach, expressed his happiness with Romelu Lukaku’s decisive goal that secured the team a 2-1 victory over Hellas Verona in the 27th round of the Italian league. He confirmed that this season has taught him a lot and made him a better coach, but at the same time, he warned that the team is still at risk of losing participation in European competitions.

Conte said: “I will carry this season with me, as it teaches me a lot about how to handle situations I have not experienced before. A coach must also know how to deal with the human element, find the right words, and know the balance between motivation and pressure.”

He added, “This experience improves me in many aspects, and dealing with all these situations is not easy at all. I feel it makes me a better coach. We are finding our way to stay standing and find the right path, not only on a technical level but as human beings as well.”

He spoke about Lukaku after returning from a long injury, saying: “Lukaku suffered a lot because of his injury, and I know how much this situation weighs on him because he wants to help Napoli and help me too due to the good relationship between us. We support him and work hard with him. He is not yet our fully known player, but he is getting closer to that. This goal will give him confidence, and the World Cup is coming, and I wish him and Kevin De Bruyne to participate in it.”

He added: “He had some other opportunities. We know he is capable of asserting his presence in the penalty area. When we attack and our opponents’ defenders are defending in large numbers, Lukaku becomes a key element. We brought him into the match, and he fulfilled his role. I hope this gives him confidence. We need everyone.”

Regarding the risks facing the team in the Italian league standings, Conte explained: “We know we are really at risk of completely missing out on European participation. We are trying to return to the required level and get the players back to fitness. We did well to secure the points today, knowing that we are capable of performing better than this.”

Regarding his future with the team, he said: “I signed a three-year contract, and there is still one season left. Let’s focus on the present to shape our best future, which means playing in the Champions League. It will be a tough battle, and we know that because other teams are in better situations while we are trying to get our players back to the required level.”