Conte demands unwavering 'sacrifice' from Napoli midfielders amid tactical tweaks

Antonio Conte demanded that his Napoli midfielders “sacrifice themselves in both phases” after the head coach tried a different formation during their Champions League win against Sporting CP.

The Serie A champions defeated their Portuguese counterparts 2-1 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Kevin De Bruyne assisting both of Rasmus Hojlund’s goals.

Hojlund has scored three braces across his first eight Champions League appearances, the joint-most of any player in their first eight games in the competition (alongside Erling Haaland and Youssef En-Nesyri).

Conte started the match with their regular four midfielders in Scott McTominay, Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobtoka and De Bruyne, but he then replaced the Scot with Noa Lang late on as he switched to a 4-3-3.

Although Conte prefers having more players in midfield, he believes the formation should not affect the desire of his players on the pitch.

“We have two paths,” Conte told Sky Sports. “Either we continue on this path with four midfielders, as I think we should because we have great room for improvement, or we can play with a 4-3-3 as we did at the end of the game tonight.

“Perhaps alternating between a more physical midfield and a more technical one in which De Bruyne can play as a half-winger. The important thing is that everyone sacrifices themselves in both phases.”

De Bruyne’s two assists for Hojlund was just the second time a Napoli player has assisted the same team-mate twice in a Champions League game, after Edinson Cavani did so for Ezequiel Lavezzi against Chelsea in February 2012.

The Belgium international’s second assist also saw him move to outright fifth for the most in the competition’s history by midfielders, with 27.

There was speculation of a potential rift between Conte and De Bruyne when the latter was visibly annoyed after being substituted during their recent Serie A loss to AC Milan, but Conte has denied such rumours.

“Kevin, compared to the other signings, comes from a different reality. He spent years at City and played at the very highest level,” Conte added.

“I have nothing to say to him, he’s a very good lad and he works hard. I understand his desire to play, but there are also substitutions. I want to win and if I make them, it’s with the intention of improving the team.

“Then it’s normal that in the media they are discussed depending on the results – the important thing is that everyone gives their all for the team.”