ANTONIO CONTE EVALUATES RASMUS HøJLUND’S TACTICAL GROWTH IN 3-4-2-1 SYSTEM
Antonio Conte praises Rasmus Højlund's growth but warns that Napoli still lags behind Juventus and Inter financially.
Antonio Conte chatted about how Rasmus Hojlund has gotten better since scoring those two goals against Cremonese. But he repeated that Napoli isn't quite up there with Juventus, Inter, and AC Milan just yet.
Napoli was super confident after winning the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh on Monday. Still, they knew they had to get back on track in Serie A after losing to Udinese, which knocked them out of first place.
Hojlund was the MVP in Cremona, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win and almost getting a third.
Conte raved about Napoli's crazy year:
We're celebrating an awesome year where we did something totally unexpected by winning the Scudetto. Then, we wrapped it up with the Supercoppa. "Beating teams like Milan, Inter, and Bologna in that tourney was something else," Conte told DAZN Italia.
It was an amazing year full of wins, and the parties in Naples are something else. We celebrated the Scudetto and the Supercoppa. Now in Serie A, we're trying to stay near the top.
We're dealing with a lot of problems this season, some of them pretty bad, but we're facing them like tough guys. I always tell the guys they can win or lose, but they have to respect that Scudetto patch on their shirts and make our fans proud.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic didn't have to do much saving at Stadio Zini, even with Jamie Vardy playing. Plus, Hojlund's already scored more goals for Napoli than he did all of last season with Manchester United.
Hojlund is super young, only 22, and can get way better. Since he joined us, he's become a key player. He's figuring out where to be, how to keep the ball, and when to come forward or fall back, Conte said.
He's really in sync with the team. In my style of play, the strikers are key, and he has a lot of space to get even better.
Again, they had a weaker team since Romelu Lukaku, Sam Beukema, Mathias Olivera, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Alex Meret, and Kevin De Bruyne were out.
Because they didn't have many options in midfield, Conte switched things up to a 3-4-2-1 setup, and it seems to be working.
Hannibal said If there's no road, we have to make one, the coach said with a smile.
We're building our road with hard work, facing issues head-on. This is the last game of the year, and we were missing a bunch of big players again. I just hope they all come back in 2026, hopefully soon. But Lukaku and De Bruyne's injuries are pretty bad, so we can't rush them. We have to be patient.
Conte said after winning the Supercoppa Italiana that he didn't think Napoli was ready to be a dominant force in Italian football. So why is that?
A few reasons. We're just starting. Our setup isn't there yet. "I think Juventus, Inter, and Milan have better structures, more depth, and bigger salaries than everyone else," the coach replied.
Whenever someone outside that group wins a trophy, it's a big deal. We can't pretend we're on the same level as those clubs.
We're trying to close the gap with hard work, but we can't ignore that it's there.
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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