Capello pins Napoli's Champions League concerns on Conte

Fabio Capello believes that Antonio Conte-coached teams may well have a mental block when it comes to succeeding in the Champions League.

Conte's Napoli are second in Serie A, albeit on the same points as leaders AC Milan, ahead of taking on Udinese on Sunday.

Yet they are failing to replicate that form in the Champions League.

A 2-0 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Benfica in midweek left Napoli in 23rd place in the 36-team standings, and they could face a fight to qualify for the play-offs.

Conte, meanwhile, has overseen 50 matches in the Champions League. His tally of 17 wins is the fewest among the eight Italian coaches to have reached that milestone in the competition. 

"Maybe Conte isn’t able to transmit that calmness and strength to the players the way he does in the league," Capello told Gazzetta.

"I don’t think so. If you dominate in Italy or England, leagues where Conte has won, it means you’re providing something positive in terms of your playing system.

"In my opinion, it’s more of a psychological issue.

"When you play in European competitions, you have to be convinced of your strength, find a certain calmness and take risks without being afraid to be bold."

While Napoli are aiming to keep pace with title rivals Milan and potentially nose themselves ahead, Udinese sit in 11th, six points off the top six but eight clear of the relegation zone.

Five of Napoli's seven Serie A defeats under Conte have come away from home, including all three of their losses in the current campaign.

They did, however, win their last top-flight away game without conceding (against Roma) and are looking for two successive away wins with an accompanying clean sheet for the first time since last May.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Udinese - Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Ekkelenkamp's first of three Serie A goals came against Napoli, away from home on February 9.

The Dutch midfielder is yet to score in the current Serie A campaign and has attempted just six shots so far, despite playing 578 minutes.

Napoli - Rasmus Hojlund

Hojlund grabbed both of Napoli's goals as they beat Juventus 2-1 last week.

Considering the last three Serie A matchdays since the November international break, two of the three players involved in the most goals in the top flight are from Napoli - David Neres (four – three goals, one assist) and Hojlund (four – two goals, two assists).

MATCH PREDICTION: NAPOLI WIN

Napoli are unbeaten in their last 18 Serie A matches against Udinese (W14 D4); in their history, they have had a longer unbeaten streak in the top-flight only against Cesena (26) and Roma (19).

Udinese's last Serie A win against Napoli was on 3 April 2016 (3-1). However, in their last six league meetings, Napoli have won three and drawn three (1-1 in their last match in February 2025).

Both Udinese and Napoli have scored in five of their last six Serie A meetings at Udinese's home ground.

Since the November international break, Napoli have conceded the fewest shots on target in Serie A (just seven in three games) and have the lowest expected goals against value (1.59).

Udinese have won just one of their last 10 Serie A home games played against a side in the top two before the matchday (W1 D5 L4), a 4-0 win over Roma on 4 September 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Udinese - 23.6%

Draw - 26.8%

Napoli - 49.6%