Conte Critiques Fixture Scheduling Following Champions League Exit

omidbasir- Antonio Conte expressed his frustration with the authorities responsible for the fixture calendar after Napoli’s heartbreaking exit from the Champions League. The Italian manager, whose squad was severely impacted by the absence of 13 first-team players for this pivotal match, could not conceal his anger regarding the physical demands placed upon his depleted team.

After Napoli’s defeat to Chelsea, Conte sarcastically inquired about the “genius” who scheduled three high-intensity matches within just seven days. “I have energy, but we have to play in two and a half days,” he stated emphatically. “It’s difficult to understand who creates the schedules that impose three games in seven days. I would like to know who the genius is behind these decisions. We play on Sunday, then now at 9 PM, and then Saturday at 6 PM.”

The former Chelsea manager contended that while authorities profess concern for player welfare, they largely ignore the realities faced by teams. “They discuss injuries and various concerns, but ultimately, they seem indifferent,” he remarked.

Despite a lengthy injury list, Napoli began the match against Liam Rosenior’s side with vigor. The hosts, featuring a core of former Premier League players including Scott McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund, and Romelu Lukaku, fought valiantly to maintain their qualification hopes. After Enzo Fernandez scored early from the penalty spot, Napoli rallied.

Young talent Antonio Vergara netted his first goal for the club, followed by Hojlund, who fired them into a 2-1 lead at halftime. For a brief moment, it appeared Conte might outsmart his former club. However, the second half was dominated by the Londoners, as Joao Pedro scored twice to secure a 3-2 victory, propelling Chelsea into the last 16 and eliminating Napoli.

Conte, however, chose not to criticize his players, instead commending their resilience against a formidable European opponent. “Each of us is striving to do our best, playing without 13 key players and holding our own against Chelsea in a European-level match is what truly matters,” he insisted.

While the defeat to Chelsea marked the end of their Champions League campaign, Conte identified a prior draw against FC Copenhagen as the turning point. Napoli could only manage a 1-1 draw despite holding a 1-0 lead and facing a Copenhagen side reduced to 10 men.

“The significant mistake was definitely in Copenhagen,” Conte acknowledged. “It should be a game everyone regrets; we all agree. You can’t have a lead and concede a penalty to equalize. Had we won, we would have already qualified for the playoffs, making this less critical.”

Conte considered the Chelsea match a ‘free hit’ given the circumstances, whereas the dropped points in Copenhagen were inexcusable errors in game management. This result left Napoli needing a favorable outcome against one of the Premier League’s top teams while grappling with an unprecedented injury crisis.

This early exit further extends Conte’s puzzling record in Europe’s elite competition. Despite his illustrious domestic career, he has struggled to replicate that success in the Champions League. Over seven seasons, Conte has failed to advance to the knockout stages four times, with his best performance being a quarter-final appearance in his inaugural season with Juventus over a decade ago. This latest setback sees Napoli finishing a dismal 30th in the newly expanded 36-team league phase, a stark contrast for a club currently holding the Italian title. Their domestic campaign has also faltered, as they trail Serie A leaders Inter by nine points after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Juventus last week.

Nonetheless, the manager remains resolute about the efforts being made at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. “The level we demonstrated, despite our challenging situation, illustrates that Napoli’s progress is not a matter of chance but rather the result of diligent work, which we must continue,” he concluded. “Perhaps with a bit of good fortune, because I believe no other team in the world is performing as well as we are under these conditions.”