Mansion Sports – Antonio Conte emphasized that he wants Napoli to secure a victory and fully deserve it when facing AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal scheduled for Thursday night.

On the same occasion, he also provided updates on the fitness conditions of Stanislav Lobotka and Romelu Lukaku, who have recently returned to training.

Napoli will face Milan in the first semifinal of the Supercoppa Italiana on Thursday night. After that, Inter and Bologna will meet on the following Thursday night, while the winners of those two matches will face each other in the Supercoppa Italiana final scheduled to take place on Monday.

This competition represents the first opportunity to contest a trophy in the 2025–26 season. In addition, this match is also an opportunity for Napoli to return to winning ways after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Udinese in Serie A and a 2-0 loss to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League over the past week.

Conte Emphasizes the Importance of Attitude and Team Consistency

In the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Conte stated that throughout a season various different situations will always arise.

He explained that his team had previously recorded five victories before suffering two defeats, with different dynamics at each moment.

According to him, the most important thing is to continue working hard with a serious attitude, strong desire, determination, and the right level of enthusiasm.

Conte also emphasized that victories and defeats must be managed in a similar manner. He stated that victories can build confidence, while defeats require a thorough evaluation of their causes.

He believes that proper analysis and the ability to manage different situations are crucial, especially when the team must play every three days.

Lobotka’s Condition and Lukaku’s Fitness Situation

Conte confirmed that Stanislav Lobotka is available to play after appearing as a substitute in the match against Udinese. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has returned to training with the main squad.

However, given that 125 days have passed since the injury he suffered on 14 August, it is unlikely that Lukaku will start in the Supercoppa Italiana match.

Napoli are also still facing injury issues in midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Billy Gilmour not yet fully recovered. This situation means that the Partenopei still have limited options in the midfield area.

Conte explained that Lobotka played for half an hour against Udinese and that the injury he sustained was not serious.

The issue was minor and has now been resolved, so the player is considered ready to return to action.

Napoli’s Limited Midfield Options

Nevertheless, Conte stressed that the presence of Lobotka does not automatically change everything.
He stated that the pure midfielders currently available are Lobotka and Scott McTominay. In addition, Eljif Elmas can also be deployed and has adapted well, but Conte emphasized the importance of continuing to respect the characteristics of each player.

Regarding Lukaku, Conte added that the striker does not yet have sufficient playing minutes. Therefore, Napoli must be patient and wait for the right moment.

He believes that Lukaku’s return to the training group is very important because of the significant influence he has in the dressing room.

Conte emphasized that the medical team will continue to monitor the results of physical tests to ensure that Lukaku can return to playing without the risk of re-injury.

Conte’s View on the Supercoppa Italiana Format

This tournament represents Conte’s first experience in the Supercoppa Italiana since the format changed to a four-team mini-tournament. He stated that this competition is a very valuable experience for himself and the players.

Conte emphasized that the entire team wants to perform at their maximum, give everything, and hopes to remain in the competition until Monday, although everything depends on the result of Thursday’s match.

He concluded by expressing his hope that the best team will emerge as the winner.

Enthusiasm for Napoli Supporter Presence

Conte also expressed his happiness at seeing the presence of Napoli supporters in Riyadh. He believes that the more often the club plays abroad, the greater its name and fan base become.

According to him, supporters often begin to follow a team based on victories, so Napoli strive to play attractive football.

He emphasized that the team feels very pleased to see direct support from Napoli fans at the match venue.

The Major Challenge of Facing Milan

In closing his remarks, Conte spoke about the significant challenge that awaits him when facing Milan.

He described Milan as a club with a great tradition, high-quality players, and outstanding coaches.

According to him, matches like this always create a desire to test oneself and see how far the team’s level can go.

Conte emphasized that matches with a trophy at stake must be able to provide an emotional boost so that every player can deliver their best performance.
He stressed that everyone wants to win, and Napoli want to achieve that victory in a proper and deserved manner.