The Scudetto defense is hanging by a thread for Napoli after a frustrating 2-2 draw against Roma at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The stalemate has left the reigning champions trailing league leaders Inter by a daunting 11 points, a gap that many now feel is insurmountable with the season entering its final stretch.
Notably, the atmosphere surrounding the club has soured as Antonio Conte appears increasingly like a maligned figure. The manager’s recent tenure has been defined by a series of public outbursts, shifting his focus from previous complaints about the club’s transfer strategy to what he describes as an “absurd” injury crisis. Following the draw with Roma and a midweek Coppa Italia exit to Como, Conte has been vocal about the lack of available resources, noting that the squad has been stretched to a breaking point without adequate support from the summer and winter markets.
This has also led to doubts over his future. Besides, Conte’s constant criticism seems to have impacted the mood of the squad.
Indeed, the inability to turn dominant performances into three points has stalled Napoli’s momentum at a critical juncture.
While January signings like Donyell Malen shone for the opposition, Napoli’s own reliance on a thin rotation has seen them drop vital points. Conte’s recurring rants which were once targeted at signings and now at the medical room—have led to suggestions that the technical project is struggling to maintain its focus under the weight of external expectations and internal frustration.
Consequently, with Inter pulling further away at the summit, the objective in Naples is rapidly shifting from a title charge to securing a top-four finish. Unless Conte can find a way to stabilize the environment and navigate the remainder of the campaign with his depleted squad, the Giallorossi and Milan clubs could soon push the champions even further down the table.
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