Napoli boss Antonio Conte appeared to aim a veiled dig at former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Antonio Conte took a chance to get some digs in against former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim ahead of Napoli’s latest game.
Napoli boss Antonio Conte appeared to aim a veiled dig at former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
Antonio Conte took a chance to get some digs in against former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim ahead of Napoli’s latest game.
The thinly-veiled comments came when Conte was defending Rasmus Hojlund, the former United striker who has done well since arriving in Napoli.
Antonio Conte questions Ruben Amorim’s coaching methods
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Antonio Conte defended Rasmus Hojlund while questioning the coaching methods Ruben Amorim used during their time together at Old Trafford.
Hojlund has gone four Serie A games without a goal, and when asked about the drought, Conte delivered a pointed response:
“Some young coaches nowadays are arrogant and don’t want to adapt. They see a young striker struggling, and instead of training him, they blame him.”
“They always complain and blame everyone but themselves, because everything is handed to them on a silver platter.”
Conte’s remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to Amorim, whose time at United ended amid criticism of his tactical inflexibility.
The Portuguese manager reportedly clashed with the club’s board over his refusal to move away from a back-five system that many felt was holding the team back.
Napoli boss uses press conference to back Rasmus Hojlund
Conte’s comments also seemed designed to support Hojlund, who, despite the recent drought, has scored six goals and provided two assists in 16 league appearances — already more productive than he was under Amorim last season.
Napoli are third in Serie A, six points off the top, but Conte’s 40-point haul is the lowest of his managerial career at this stage in Italy’s top flight. The comments may have reflected both frustration and defiance as he stood by his striker amid growing scrutiny.
Whether Conte meant his remarks as a direct shot at Amorim or not, the timing and tone were hard to ignore. He’ll now be hoping Hojlund can repay that faith when Napoli take on Sassuolo this weekend.
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Category: General Sports
