Conte Warns Napoli Not to Underestimate Relegation-Threatened Venezia

Napoli manager Antonio Conte discusses his team's upcoming match against Venezia, praising striker Romelu Lukaku's recent form and emphasizing the need for consistency, while also warning against underestimating their relegation-threatened opponents.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte is wary of relegation-threatened Venezia, despite their lowly position in the Serie A standings. Conte acknowledged that Venezia's record against top teams makes them a potentially dangerous opponent, even though they have only managed three league wins this season. “With Venezia we will have to show that we are better than them, hungrier and more willing to win than them, knowing that they will want to do the same,” Conte told reporters ahead of the match.

Conte highlighted Venezia's impressive defensive performances in the second half of the season, which have seen them hold top-five sides Lazio and Atalanta to goalless draws. They have also pushed leaders Inter Milan and AS Roma hard, losing 1-0 to both teams. Conte warned that Napoli cannot take Venezia lightly, saying, “I have studied the teams that played there, the difficulties Inter Milan, AS Roma, Lazio faced. It won't be a walk in the park, I expect a great game, we need a demonstration of maturity and to show that we are on the ball.”

Conte emphasized that Napoli must be prepared for a tough match against Venezia, who will be fighting to save themselves from relegation. “Nothing can be taken for granted, we face a healthy team, they will play their cards to save themselves, we will have to play a great match and I expect that,” Conte said. He praised Venezia's determination and warned his team to be ready for a challenging encounter.

Ease the wait for the match by enjoying a weekend with Coca-Cola and pizza#RealMagic #FridayFeeling #CocaCola @CocaColaIT pic.twitter.com/grloHFsGdS

— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) March 14, 2025

Antonio Conte praised his striker Romelu Lukaku, who delivered an impressive performance in Napoli's 2-1 win over Fiorentina last week. Lukaku scored and assisted in the match, showcasing his chemistry with forward Giacomo Raspadori. Conte acknowledged Lukaku's contributions, saying, “Surely having someone on your side can relieve you of the duties of a first striker but Romelu had two good matches, as did the whole team.”

Conte expressed his expectations for Lukaku's future performances, emphasizing the need for consistency. “But I expect more from him, already from tomorrow's game,” Conte said. “He must confirm what he did in the last two, but try to do even better, like everyone else, not just him.” Lukaku has scored 10 goals in all competitions for Napoli this season, following his transfer from Chelsea last year.