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Antonio Conte stated that Napoli didn't deserve to lose 3-2 to Bologna but acknowledged that their early deficits are not a fluke. Napoli needed a win to secure Champions League qualification with two matches remaining.
Conte: āNapoli didnāt deserve defeat, but itās not a flukeā
Antonio Conte feels Napoli ādidnāt deserveā to lose 3-2 to Bologna, but also admits it is āevidently not a flukeā if they keep going behind early. āWeāve got to secure Champions League football.ā
The Partenopei came into this match knowing that a victory would guarantee Champions League qualification with two rounds to spare.
They went 2-0 down to goals from Federico Bernardeschi and Riccardo Orsolini, managed to claw their way back with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alisson Santos, but capitulated in stoppages to an acrobatic Jonathan Rowe volley.
NAPLES, ITALY ā MAY 11: Vincenzo Italiano Bologna FC 1909 head coach greets Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Conte believes Napoli played well but fell short due to early mistakes that led to their defeat.
Napoli fell behind 2-0, equalized with goals from Di Lorenzo and Santos, but ultimately lost due to a stoppage-time goal from Jonathan Rowe.
The loss means Napoli must secure points in their remaining matches to guarantee Champions League football for next season.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Alisson Santos scored for Napoli in their 3-2 loss to Bologna.
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āWhen you press, youāve got to do it properly, because if you only do it half-way then you just end up running around for nothing,ā Conte told DAZN Italia.
āWe couldāve been more determined in the pressing, but it wasnāt the first time this season we were 2-0 down, so that means itās not a fluke. Evidently we need to be more determined in the initial approach, because it keeps happening.
āWe managed to get it back on track, tried to win and pushed hard, but if you canāt win, then you should at least try not to lose. I donāt think we deserved to lose, but these things happen.
āThere are two games to go, weāve got to recharge the batteries, secure Champions League football in these two matches and try to do our best.
āI am not upset with the performance, I saw the lads wanted to get the job done tonight, but at times thereās a twist in the tale.ā
NAPLES, ITALY ā MAY 11: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Now Napoli are by no means sure of a top four finish, as they are just two points clear of Juventus in third, three points ahead of Milan and Roma, and even Como are in there five points adrift.
Rasmus Hojlund was repeatedly told off from the touchline for wandering offside, but is working a lot harder than he did when first arriving from Manchester United.
NAPLES, ITALY ā MAY 11: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
āLet us not forget, he is the only striker weāve got in the squad right now, so heās playing constantly,ā noted Conte.
āI wish I had the chance to give him some rest. Heās young, has a lot of energy, there are moments when you need to attack the space, others when you hold up the ball. He is only 23, works hard for the team and has margin for improvement.ā
Alisson Santos impressed when running at defenders, so can he fill the gap left in this squad by the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain?
āAlisson is improving, we are trying to use him in a way that can make the most of his characteristics. He arrived from Sporting, where he had basically never started a match, so it required a lot of work and he has improved a lot,ā replied Conte.
āThe other problem is once the defenders get to know him, it all becomes more difficult.ā