Conte Takes Swipe at Manchester United Over McTominay, Højlund After Napoli Supercoppa Italiana Win

Details

Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte has taken a subtle swipe at Manchester United, praising the work done by his coaching staff in improving the skills of star duo Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay. The comments came after Napoli’s 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana win over Bologna, powered by a brace from David Neres.
Conte’s remarks were aimed at highlighting the growth of Højlund and McTominay, who have found renewed success in Italy after falling out of favor at Old Trafford. The Scottish midfielder, who arrived at Napoli ahead of the 2024-25 season, was named Serie A MVP, while Højlund, who joined on a one-year loan, has quickly established himself as a key contributor.
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Conte emphasized the importance of his coaching staff’s work in expanding the players’ knowledge and making them stronger. He also acknowledged that Napoli are not yet ready to dominate Italian soccer, despite their recent successes.
“Napoli are far from being dominant,” Conte said. “I would be lying if I said we are ready to dictate terms. We must try to stay as close as possible to the Champions League zone, because those four spots will be highly contested. We have to understand that only through humility and hard work can we earn satisfaction.”
Højlund and McTominay have been instrumental in Napoli’s success, with the Danish striker and the Scottish midfielder constantly threatening to add their names to the scoresheet. The duo’s performances have been a major factor in Napoli’s rise to third place in Serie A, and their current pace suggests that Højlund may be well-positioned to make his move to the club permanent.

Background

Napoli have undergone a successful rebuild since Conte’s arrival, capturing the Scudetto in the 2024-25 season and adding the Supercoppa Italiana six months later. Despite their strong performance against Bologna, however, Conte insists that the club is still far from establishing true dominance.

Key Statistics

– Napoli’s Supercoppa Italiana win was powered by a brace from David Neres.
– Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay have found renewed success in Italy after falling out of favor at Old Trafford.
– Napoli are third in Serie A, with Højlund and McTominay instrumental in their rise.

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