Napoli are set to welcome back key midfielder Stanislav Lobotka for their crucial match against Inter Milan on Sunday evening. The Slovakian international has recovered from a thigh injury that sidelined him for several games, and his return is a significant boost for the team as they prepare to face one of their toughest opponents.
In a press conference, head coach Antonio Conte confirmed Lobotka’s availability, stating, “Lobotka has recovered and is available. We still need to evaluate whether he will start or come on during the match. We all know his qualities; there’s no need to emphasize the value of the player.” Conte also expressed his satisfaction with Lobotka’s replacement, Billy Gilmour, who has performed admirably in recent matches. “You won’t hear me complain if I’m missing a player; we have a squad built within our limits, and I trust all the players at my disposal,” he added.
Lobotka had been dealing with a grade one strain of his left semitendinosus muscle, an injury he sustained while on international duty. Conte had previously indicated that Lobotka would be back for the San Siro clash, and now it appears that the midfielder is ready to contribute once again. Having missed the last four matches against Empoli, Lecce, Milan, and Atalanta, Lobotka’s presence in midfield is expected to stabilize Napoli’s play.
Conte reflected on the challenges his team faced in Lobotka’s absence: “When we don’t perform at our best, we lose duels and second balls, making it difficult against these teams. Every opponent can put us in trouble if we don’t give everything; against Atalanta, we need to give 100% to play a good match.”
