Antonio Conte admitted Napoli have “numerous work to do” following their humiliating 6-2 collapse in opposition to PSV within the Champions League, however insisted he is not going to be altering his tactical strategy.
The Italian’s aspect endured a disastrous evening on the Philips Stadion on Tuesday, squandering an early lead after Scott McTominay’s Thirty first-minute header put them in entrance.
PSV hit again nearly instantly, with Alessandro Buongiorno turning Ivan Perisic’s cross into his personal internet earlier than Ismael Saibari calmly side-footed house to finish the turnaround inside seven minutes.
Dennis Man struck a 3rd shortly after the break as Napoli unravelled, and their evening worsened when Lorenzo Lucca was despatched off for dissent.
Man then added his second, earlier than McTominay grabbed a late comfort header. Substitutes Ricardo Pepi and Couhaib Driouech piled on the distress within the closing minutes, exchanging objectives and assists to seal an emphatic win for the Dutch aspect.
Regardless of the character of their loss, although, Conte insisted that he received’t be speeding to make any tactical adjustments, with an important Serie A conflict in opposition to Inter Milan looming this weekend.
“I see these gamers daily, and when I attempt to calm issues down, it’s not on the lookout for excuses,” Conte instructed Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s as a result of I can see issues that counsel to me that is going to be an advanced marketing campaign.”
Una notte da dimenticare, grazie per il vostro supporto.
Tutti insieme per rialzarci subito! pic.twitter.com/pcCL5T5VbZ— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) October 21, 2025
When requested about tactical changes, he replied: “What do you imply? Should you win, it’s all good, if you happen to lose then it’s all dangerous?
“Everybody praised utilizing 4 midfielders, individuals stated [Kevin] De Bruyne was dangerous after one recreation, then after Sporting they stated he couldn’t get replaced.
“We’ve been making an attempt to get the 4 midfielders to co-exist collectively. In my opinion, a great coach is ready to decide on his greatest gamers within the beginning XI and discover the correct alchemy. We have now been in a position to try this at occasions.
“Inevitably, there’ll all the time be somebody who complains that this or that determine isn’t taking part in, however what are we meant to vary tactically?
“We’ve discovered the perfect steadiness proper now, and two very attacking wingers will not be giving us steadiness, so I see no have to sacrifice one of many midfielders proper now.”
Conte, although, acknowledged the size of the defeat however urged his group to deal with it as a lesson relatively than a setback.
“There’s definitely disappointment, however these conditions are by no means a fluke. We should do properly to take advantage of what occurred tonight to vary tack,” he stated.
“However that is the extent of the Champions League. We can’t complain. There’s numerous work to be achieved, however we all know that it’s going to take an actual wrestle this season, so we’ve bought to be able to put that work in.”
6 – #Napoli have conceded six objectives for the primary time in European competitors; total, they suffered a minimum of six objectives in a single match for the primary time since December twenty first, 1997 (3-6 in opposition to Sampdoria in Serie A). Rumor.#PSVNapoli #UCL pic.twitter.com/wHSjZx8uwe
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 21, 2025
The consequence marked the primary time Napoli have conceded six objectives in European competitors, and the primary time total since a 6-3 Serie A defeat to Sampdoria in December 1997.
The Italian additionally added that replicating final season’s Scudetto heroics this season with a congested schedule and extra gamers could be an enormous problem for the Partenopei.
“Final season, we received the Scudetto in a unprecedented, unbelievable manner, having only a few gamers when everybody went past their limitations,” Conte stated.
“We had nice unity and solidity. Inevitably, taking part in in Europe and including many extra new gamers, who for my part have been too many, as a result of 9 new faces in a locker room is not any imply feat. We have been compelled to try this.
“Because the begin of the season, I stated this was going to be robust, as a result of I’ve expertise, I do know what it takes to soak up these adjustments.”
