NAPLES, Italy (Reuters) – For the second successive week Serie A leaders Napoli laboured to a 1-0 win, but manager Antonio Conte said on Saturday that he had little reason to reprimand his players after they did enough to earn their fourth successive victory.
Last weekend Napoli overcame Empoli thanks to a penalty and it took a second half goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo to see off Lecce this time around, as Conte’s side struggled to breakdown a team second from bottom in the standings.
“I have little to reproach the team today. I look at the statistics that can mean all or nothing, but today we had great ball possession and 16 corners,” Conte told DAZN.
“They defended in an organised way, but we attacked. When you attack and don’t score, then a bit of nervousness can take over.
“I calmed them down, because you have to have the maturity and patience to keep going, move the ball around and create chances to score.”
Calmness is what is required according to Conte, especially against teams who come to play on the counter, like a Lecce side which came into the game on the back of a 6-0 thumping by Fiorentina and in need of points.
“We did what we had to, we dominated from start to finish. I can’t ask more of the players looking at the statistics from the game,” Conte told a press conference.
“I can ask that when the teams close down you have to have patience and calm. I’m happy because they are very difficult games.
“The standings don’t reflect fairly on Lecce, I wish them the best and I’m sure they will get salvation.”
Napoli midfielder Frank Anguissa gave an insight into Conte’s reaction after a scoreless first half.
“He didn’t shout. He told us to continue playing as we know how, and to remain calm,” Anguissa told DAZN.
“It’s always difficult playing against a team that defends so low. I’m happy for Di Lorenzo and for the squad.”
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
