Coach Conte issues a warning to De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne showed irritation when taken off during Napoli's defeat to AC Milan, yet Antonio Conte immediately warned the Belgian player, stressing that collective discipline is paramount.

The headline match of the Serie A weekend between AC Milan and Napoli ended with the reigning champions losing 1-2. However, the most discussed topic was not just the scoreline, but Kevin De Bruyne’s visibly upset reaction after being substituted by Antonio Conte in the second half.

After the game, the Italian coach stated: “I hope De Bruyne is angry about the match result, not the substitution decision. If it’s the latter, then he’s targeting the wrong person. I needed fresh energy in attack because Milan was defending very densely. I replaced Hojlund with Lucca to create one-on-one chances. I believe the substitutions were justified.”

In the 72nd minute, as Napoli was pushing to equalize, Conte made three substitutions. Among them, De Bruyne, who had just scored a penalty to reduce the deficit, was unexpectedly taken off. The 34-year-old midfielder showed clear dissatisfaction and even gestured towards Conte before sitting on the bench.

Experts analyze that Conte’s public warning to De Bruyne is not necessarily a sign of conflict but reflects his strict coaching style. European football analyst Andy Brassell commented on talkSPORT: “Conte demands a lot from his players. He isn’t afraid to create tension if it leads to victory. With a strong personality like De Bruyne, clashes with Conte are almost inevitable.”

In fact, Conte is well known for his intense personality and ability to manage the locker room with strict discipline. His nearly 70% win rate in Serie A and winning the Premier League with Chelsea in his first season demonstrate this success. Therefore, he does not hesitate to make tough decisions, even involving star players like De Bruyne.

As for De Bruyne, he joined Napoli this summer after leaving Manchester City. He signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year. Although he has scored 3 goals in 6 matches across all competitions, Conte has only allowed him to play full 90 minutes in two games. This indicates the Belgian midfielder is still adapting to the coach’s strict rotation philosophy.

The defeat to Milan ended Napoli’s perfect start and dropped them to second place in the standings. With a packed schedule including the Champions League and Serie A, Conte will need to balance maintaining his key players’ fitness and their desire to win.

Napoli will have a chance to make amends when they host Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League midweek, before facing Genoa in Serie A. The incident between Conte and De Bruyne will likely be put behind quickly, but it also serves as a reminder that in Napoli’s current squad, no ego can outweigh the team’s collective interests.