{"id":15301,"date":"2026-01-31T19:53:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T19:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/bigger-squad-or-its-suicide\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T19:53:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T19:53:41","slug":"bigger-squad-or-its-suicide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/bigger-squad-or-its-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Bigger squad or it’s suicide’"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"NAPLES,<\/picture><\/div>\n

NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 31: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Antonio Conte confirms Giovanni Di Lorenzo has probably torn his ACL, then lashes out angrily at Napoli directors, UEFA and more. \u2018We need a bigger squad, otherwise it\u2019s suicide.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Partenopei were in dire need of a boost after back-to-back defeats against Juventus in Serie A and Chelsea in the Champions League, the latter sealing their early elimination.<\/p>\n

Antonio Vergara scored his first senior Napoli goal in that midweek tie and this evening got his first in Serie A, followed by Miguel Gutierrez for a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina.<\/p>\n

Conte confirms season probably over for Di Lorenzo<\/h2>\n
\"NAPLES,
NAPLES, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 31: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli injured during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was bad news too for Napoli, as captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo was stretchered off in agony after his left knee seemed to hyper-extend, prompting fears of ligament damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not much we can say, it\u2019s game upon game upon game, we have to keep using players who ought to be rested and yet can\u2019t, it leads to these situations,\u201d Conte told DAZN Italia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tore my cruciate ligament, I know it\u2019s a traumatic injury. I continue to say playing all these matches, it kills the players and kills football.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there are restrictions on who you can have in the squad, and ours is even smaller because we don\u2019t have many players from the youth academy, and the ones we do have want to go out on loan to play more regularly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pulled Vergara out the hat, then there are age limits, but if we have to play 60 games per year, we need a bigger squad, otherwise it\u2019s suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NAPLES,
NAPLES, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 31: Albert Gudmundsson of ACF Fiorentina battles for possession with Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Di Lorenzo has not had the tests yet, but Conte suggests the initial feedback from the medical staff is very bad indeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sensation is he\u2019s done serious damage to his knee and it\u2019s the cruciate ligament. It\u2019s nasty. You know full well what Di Lorenzo means for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople say I complain, but we\u2019re doing anything but complaining considering this is an infinite series of injuries. They are bad injuries too, not just muscular ones for 2-4 weeks out, these are serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are managing to plug the holes because these lads are doing extraordinary things. Once again, there weren\u2019t many options on the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NAPLES,
NAPLES, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 31: Miguel Gutierrez of SSC Napoli celebrates with his head coach Antonio Conte after scoring his side second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conte then lashed out at the Napoli hierarchy, but at the football calendar in general with the expanded Champions League and Supercoppa Italiana.<\/p>\n

\u201cClubs don\u2019t seem to understand it\u2019s like a dog chasing its own tail. You fight to qualify for all these tournaments to get more money, but it\u2019s ephemeral, because the more competitions you are in, the more players you have to buy, the more the wage bill goes up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they don\u2019t understand that, then football will go in a bad direction and leads to this sort of thing. I don\u2019t just mean Napoli, I am speaking out in general to defend players and it\u2019s a shame everyone turns their backs on players in favour of the clubs, leagues, UEFA, etc. I say this as an ex-player.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a team already stretched thin without Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, David Neres, Matteo Politano, Amir Rrahmani, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour.<\/p>\n

\"NAPLES,
NAPLES, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 31: Miguel Gutierrez of SSC Napoli celebrates with his head coach Antonio Conte and Juan Jesus after scoring his side second goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 31, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Di Lorenzo was injured, why did Conte introduce Mathias Olivera rather than centre-back Sam Beukema?<\/p>\n

\u201cI introduced Mathias because right now he gives me more guarantees than Beukema, that\u2019s it,\u201d shrugged the Napoli coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are talking about a team trying to do its best with what we have at our disposal. Fortunately, we picked up these points, but if the season had started today and we had this squad, what position do you think Napoli would be challenging for? Be realistic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the Coppa Italia, we want to qualify for Europe, but it becomes very difficult, especially as the other clubs are bringing in reinforcements, while we are under a transfer embargo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is just fantastic,\u201d added Conte sarcastically. \u201cWe are the only club running at a profit of \u20ac240m and are banned from making transfers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I am really p***ed off about Di Lorenzo, so it\u2019s best we wrap this up or I\u2019ll say something else and get into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n