SHOCK: ANTONIO CONTE DENIES NAPOLI DOMINANCE! DISCOVER THE BRUTAL TRUTH AFTER SUPERCOPPA VICTORY TODAY
Antonio Conte claims Napoli aren't ready to lead Italian football despite a 2-0 Supercoppa win. Discover why here
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Antonio Conte is saying Napoli isn't quite ready to rule Italian soccer, even after their Scudetto and Supercoppa wins. It was a perfect competition, he said.
This is Napoli's third Supercoppa. They won in 1990-91 and 2014-15, but the first win was also a Scudetto year.
They beat AC Milan 2-0 in the semi-final in Riyadh and then did the same to Bologna in the final. David Neres was the star, scoring both goals.
Conte's got mixed feelings—praise for Napoli, but staying grounded.
"The guys deserve a pat on the back for a perfect competition against both Milan and Bologna," Conte told Sport Mediaset.
They really wanted this trophy for the fans. Christmas will be great with a new trophy. We're coming off a Scudetto and a Supercoppa Italiana, beating tough teams like Inter, Milan, and Bologna.
This is only Conte’s second Supercoppa Italiana, after winning at Juventus in 2013-14, and his second trophy at Napoli.
Conte mentioned yesterday that people only remember the winners. Is he making a truly unforgettable team?
Winners go down in history. Napoli lost the Supercoppa Final two years ago to Inter, but nobody recalls that. We had an amazing run to win the Scudetto, and we beat a great team like Milan in the semi-final, so it had been a great run, but winning is all that matters in football.
Nobody cares about the losers. "I've lost many as a player and coach," Conte continued.
Those losses made me more determined. Nobody remembers I was a runner-up in the World Cup or European Championship, or that I lost three Champions League Finals. They remember I won one Champions League and one Intercontinental Cup.
Losing a final fires you up. You don't want to feel that pain again. You know the run was good, but you needed that cherry on top.
This was Bologna's first Supercoppa Italiana because they won the Coppa Italia last season, their first trophy in 51 years.
I want to give Bologna kudos because they're a big deal in Italian football now. They won the Coppa Italia, knocked out Inter in the semi-final, and were super competitive tonight. Vincenzo Italiano, the players, and the club deserve credit for what they're doing.
Considering Napoli has won two of the last three Serie A titles and now the Supercoppa, are they the top dogs in Italian football, ahead of Inter and Milan?
“No, I can’t say that,” Conte stated. I’d be lying if I did. We won the title last season with a small squad. We brought in a lot of new players this summer, so we still aren't ready to be on top.
If you look at the Serie A table, we have to stay close to the Champions League spots. This year will be tough, and calling the top four will be hard.
We need to be humble and work hard to climb the ranks. I can't say we're ready to lead because we are not there yet.
Napoli started the same lineup that beat AC Milan in the semi-final. They didn't have many choices because Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, and Alex Meret are out long-term.
Conte, Neres made those goals, and you won thanks to one guy's performance, not the team.
If you look at how many scoring chances we made, we could've scored more. "The team played great overall," Conte replied.
The first goal was some individual magic, but we made the other chances by working out how to cause Bologna problems. Our job as coaches is to help players learn and get better. I think everyone I've worked with has improved in tactics, movement, and mentality.
You need talent, but you also need a team that helps them let it shine.
Rasmus Hojlund worked hard and moved well, which is different from what people saw when he was at Manchester United.
People said Rasmus didn't play in Manchester, and neither did McTominay. Why? Think about that. The staff and I had a job to do. "There's a reason we're here," Conte said.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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