Napoli favourites to repeat success but Antonio Conte stresses need for patience

ROME – Napoli coach Antonio Conte exceeded expectations last season by guiding the club to their second Scudetto in three years, but this time they are favourites to retain the crown.

Conte is again downplaying lofty ambitions, mindful that this season they must juggle Serie A with the Champions League, having missed out on European football last term, while he works to mould a squad reshaped by significant turnover.

Victor Osimhen and Giacomo Raspadori have now officially left the club – Osimhen to Galatasaray after a transfer soap opera following a year on loan, while Raspadori will play in La Liga with Atletico Madrid.

“It’s true we won the title, which was extraordinary and incredible, but now we need to take the second step before we can think about taking the third,” Conte told reporters.

“Balance is essential for all teams. When I say we are a work in progress, I mean also that we are trying different solutions. We did it throughout last season too.”

The arrival of Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City could prove a match made in heaven alongside Scott McTominay, who enjoyed a remarkable resurgence last season.

The Scot is thriving in Naples, hailed as a hero after driving the club to the Scudetto and winning Serie A’s Most Valuable Player award. He will now join forces with Belgian playmaker de Bruyne, renowned for his vision, creativity and match-winning influence.

The pair will aim to serve striker Romelu Lukaku, who will most likely be joined by Matteo Politano up front along with loanee Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese.

But Lukaku has suffered a serious thigh injury which may require surgery, Napoli announced on Aug 18, as the media reported the Belgium forward may be sidelined for weeks.

The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan player picked up the injury on Aug 14 during a 2-1 win over Olympiakos Piraeus in a friendly.

Tests revealed that the 32-year-old, who scored 14 goals as Napoli won Serie A last season, has “a high-grade injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his left thigh”, the club said.

Lukaku “has already begun rehabilitation and will also undergo surgical consultation”, Napoli added in the statement.

The acquisition of Dutch defender Sam Beukema from Bologna and winger Noa Lang from PSV Eindhoven will also give Conte greater options, with the season likely to come down to who can field their best players in the final matches.

In goal, veteran Alex Meret faces a strong challenge from new signing Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, the former Torino stalwart.

The reigning champions enter the new campaign as reluctant favourites, with last campaign’s core intact.

If de Bruyne and McTominay strike the right balance in midfield, few sides look capable of matching their strength. Conte may downplay expectations, but with his guidance and de Bruyne’s influence, they remain the team to beat.

Their main rivals Inter Milan enter a new era by entrusting inexperienced coach Cristian Chivu to heal the wounds of the previous campaign and restore confidence to a side left reeling from the collapse of their treble bid.

Last season, Inter’s title defence crumbled in the final stretch as they lost out on the Scudetto to Napoli by a point.

Their domestic struggles were compounded by a Coppa Italia semi-final defeat by city rivals AC Milan but worse was to come.

The campaign ended in brutal fashion, with a 5-0 Champions League final loss to Paris St Germain, a result that marked the end of Simone Inzaghi’s four-year spell at the helm.

In a bold move, the club opted for inexperience to lead the next phase. Chivu, an ex-Inter player who spent six years managing the club’s youth teams, replaced Inzaghi despite having coached just 13 senior matches, guiding Parma to Serie A safety last term.

The Romanian began his tenure by taking Inter to the last 16 at the Club World Cup, which gave him the chance to assess two new signings – Croatian midfielder Petar Sucic, 21, and Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, 23.

But the real challenge begins now, as domestic and European campaigns loom large.

While Inter have retained the core of their experienced squad, Chivu’s arrival offers hope to new signings and younger players eager to make their mark.

He already has a strong connection with striker Francesco Pio Esposito, who he coached with Inter’s youth teams. After an impressive loan spell at Serie B side Spezia, the 20-year-old returned to Inter and scored on his first start at the Club World Cup.

French 21-year-old forward Ange-Yoan Bonny, who worked under Chivu at Parma, has also joined Inter, with the club still hoping to bring in further signings, such as Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman.

Elsewhere in Serie A, there have been several coaching changes.

Atalanta will be led by former Southampton coach Ivan Juric. The Croat replaces Gian Piero Gasperini, who ended a nine-year spell with the club to join AS Roma.

AC Milan have welcomed back Massimiliano Allegri, who previously led them to the Scudetto but is more well-known for his trophy-laden spell at Juventus.

Juve, meanwhile, have plumped for Igor Tudor who steadied the ship after they sacked Thiago Motta last term. REUTERS