Napoli in crisis: When the champions are seen as 'already dead'

11/11/2025 07:27:00 SportScoop

The 0-2 loss at Bologna not only caused Napoli to lose their leading position but also hinted at an escalating crisis, evident in the explosive remarks made by head coach Antonio Conte. When the leader stated he refused to "accompany a dead man," it signaled that Napoli is on the edge of a precipice.

Napoli is slowly losing its essence. The defending champions have become fragile, lethargic, and lack vitality more than ever. Three straight matches without a goal in all competitions (drawing 0-0 with Como, 0-0 with Frankfurt, and losing 0-2 to Bologna) have pushed the tension and frustration to a breaking point.

The champions are unrecognizable now

The most alarming issue is not the results but how Napoli played. After Juventus and Milan dropped points the day before, Napoli was expected to beat Bologna to strengthen their lead, but what did they do at Renato Dall'Ara stadium? Bologna lost their main goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski just 5 minutes into the game and had to field the 17-year-old Massimo Pessina, who had never played in Serie A before. This seemed like the perfect scenario for Napoli's attack to dominate. However, Rasmus Hojlund and his teammates lacked the power to intimidate this young goalkeeper. Throughout the match, Napoli only managed 4 shots with none on target.

The paradox is that this deadlock happened even though Conte had his best players available. Stanislav Lobotka returned to control the midfield, and Hojlund recovered to lead the attack. In theory, this was nearly the optimal lineup at this time. Yet, on the pitch, it was a disastrous performance. The ball moved at a "snail’s pace," making it easy for opponents to anticipate and close every gap. Scott McTominay and Frank Anguissa, the hardworking runners who once troubled Inter, suddenly lost their smoothness and sharpness in their runs.

Although Conte defended Hojlund as the best player on the pitch, the Danish striker remains stuck in a goal drought lasting over a month. He is increasingly isolated up front, starved of the ball and disconnected. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne is certainly a major factor, but it cannot be the sole excuse for a worn-out team playing like "weak and confused understudies" of themselves from a few months ago.

Conte shows signs of helplessness amid Napoli’s problems

Conte’s "declaration of war"

Antonio Conte, who has never been good at hiding his emotions, could not contain his anger, which had been building since the humiliating 2-6 loss to PSV in the Champions League. In the post-match press conference, he issued unusually harsh words. "I don’t want to walk alongside a dead man," Conte declared, criticizing a team that looked like lifeless zombies. This can be seen as a clear message that he is ready to leave if the team’s attitude does not improve.

Conte admitted his failure to ignite passion: "After 4 months, I still haven’t reached the minds of this team." He pointed out that the core issue is not tactics, whether a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, but the heart and enthusiasm. He observed that players are merely "doing homework mechanically" instead of playing with passion and determination. "Everyone only cares about their own little garden," he complained, hinting at selfishness creeping into the locker room.

These remarks bear Conte’s distinct "signature," reminiscent of his turbulent final days at Tottenham, where he openly criticized the players’ lack of ambition and fighting spirit. Conte is the kind of coach willing to burn everything down to provoke a reaction—a risky gamble that could lead to total collapse or a powerful revival. He even referenced the "ghost" of the past when Napoli finished 10th after their last Scudetto win, as a warning against complacency killing the team.

Although President Aurelio De Laurentiis immediately called to express full support, the pressure on Conte remains immense. He feels "surrounded" by whispers blaming his harsh "marine-style" training methods for the injury crisis.

Napoli stands at a fateful crossroads. The upcoming FIFA Days break will offer a valuable "ceasefire" period for Conte and his players to reflect. When Serie A resumes, they will face a tough schedule against Atalanta, Roma, and Juventus. These matches will be decisive. If the "dead man" cannot revive, a noisy breakup in Naples will be inevitable.

The last straw for Atalanta

Atalanta is almost certain to sack coach Ivan Juric this week and is negotiating with Raffaele Palladino, former head coach of Monza and Fiorentina, as his replacement. The 0-3 home defeat to newly promoted Sassuolo in the 11th round of Serie A was the final straw, despite Atalanta having won 1-0 against Marseille just days earlier to secure crucial Champions League points. This loss dropped Atalanta to 13th in the Serie A standings, a position never seen under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. They have gone seven Serie A matches without a win (five draws, two losses).

Juric will be the fourth Serie A coach to lose his job this season after Igor Tudor at Juventus (replaced by Luciano Spalletti),Patrick Vieira at Genoa (replaced by Daniele De Rossi) and Stefano Pioli at Fiorentina (replaced by Paolo Vanoli). Last weekend, these two newly changed teams fought each other to a 2-2 draw near the relegation zone. Fiorentina remains winless after 11 matches (five draws, six losses) and sits at the bottom, two points behind Genoa. Patrick Vieira at Genoa (replaced by Daniele De Rossi) and Stefano Pioli at Fiorentina (replaced by Paolo Vanoli). Last weekend, these two teams that recently changed coaches held each other to a 2-2 draw in the relegation battle. Fiorentina is still without a win after 11 games (5 draws, 6 losses) and occupies last place, two points behind Genoa.

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