The atmosphere around Napoli turned tense on Tuesday night as manager Antonio Conte openly questioned his squad’s mentality following a shocking 6–2 thrashing by PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League.
In what was supposed to be a showcase of Napoli’s attacking strength, the match instead exposed cracks within the Serie A champions — and Conte didn’t shy away from pointing fingers at his senior players.
“Adding nine new players is no small task,” Conte said post-match to Sky Sport Italia. “You don’t build chemistry overnight. But if some players believe our problems come only from tactics, they are wrong.”
Behind Conte’s words lay a subtle but pointed message to two of his biggest stars — Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Højlund.
De Bruyne, the Belgian midfield maestro signed to elevate Napoli’s creativity, was withdrawn before halftime after a subdued performance. Højlund, meanwhile, missed the match with a thigh injury, but Conte still hinted at broader integration issues surrounding the summer arrivals.
“We’ve added world-class players, yes — but football is about unity, not individuals,” the Napoli boss remarked, in what many saw as a veiled warning to the dressing room.
The heavy defeat — the first time a Conte-led team has conceded six goals in a single match — has sent alarm bells ringing in Naples. Analysts have questioned whether the squad’s big-name additions have upset the balance that made Napoli such a force last season.
Conte, however, insists the problem is transitional, not terminal.
“We’re rebuilding, not panicking,” he said. “But if we lose our collective belief, the season will become complicated very quickly.”
The Italian champions now face a crucial period as they juggle Serie A duties and a turbulent European campaign. With De Bruyne struggling for rhythm and Højlund yet to find his place in the squad, Conte’s challenge lies in re-establishing cohesion without sacrificing star quality.
The manager’s message was clear — the time for excuses is over. Napoli must rediscover their grit, discipline, and identity before their Champions League hopes slip further away.
As the dust settles on Eindhoven’s humiliation, one truth stands out: Conte’s Napoli project, filled with ambition and world-class names, now faces its toughest test — unity under pressure.
