Antonio Conte Fires Warning to Milan, Inter and Juventus After Napoli’s Supercoppa Win
Conte is keeping the pressure firmly off Napoli.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 23 December 2025
Napoli may have lifted the Supercoppa Italiana, but Antonio Conte’s post-final message was aimed beyond Bologna and towards AC Milan, Inter and Juventus.
Napoli coach Antonio Conte puts pressure firmly on Milan, Inter and Juventus
Conte’s side beat Bologna 2-0 in Riyadh on Monday, with David Neres scoring twice to secure Napoli’s third Supercoppa in their history.
The Partenopei’s triumph comes months after they won the Serie A title, and they remain firmly in the Scudetto picture this year too.
However, Conte has emphatically played down any notion of Napoli being on par with Milan, Inter and Juventus.
Asked if Napoli are ready to “command” Italy over the traditional trio, Conte answered: “No… I’d be a liar.”
He then went further, adding Napoli are “not ready” and “not even close” to dominating, despite adding several new players.
It sounded like humility, yet it also read as a warning: Napoli are not resting on their laurels.
Conte said “only the winner remains” in football’s memory, admitting finals lost as player and coach made him “more ruthless.”
That line, repeated across Italian coverage, was less self-pity than a demand for hunger, even after securing a trophy.
Even in victory, Conte pointed to missed chances and a lack of cynicism, arguing Napoli could have scored far more.
A message for January, and the dressing room
Conte was eager to manage expectations, saying the top-four race will be hard and Napoli must keep working “with humility.”
The subtext is squad depth. Napoli have already had injury issues this season, and Conte keeps stressing how thin last year’s squad was.
President Aurelio De Laurentiis struck a brighter tone, telling supporters to “dream away” after the Supercoppa celebrations.
That contrast is useful: a chairman selling belief, and a coach protecting standards, so as to not let complacency creep in.
Conte also name-checked the revival of Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay, both formerly of Manchester United.
It was a subtle flex – and a recruitment pitch – that Napoli can improve careers quickly in a demanding, winning environment.
On the pitch, Napoli looked ready for big nights, dominating Bologna and creating early chances before Neres delivered his magic.
Conte may reject talk of “commanding” Italy, but his words still tighten the pressure on Milan, Inter and Juventus.
Napoli’s message is that they are not finished, not complacent, and not letting rivals off the hook this season.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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