Intense week for those who remained in Castel Volturno. Double sessions, a test to put minutes into the legs of even those who have played less and today the last training session before two days of rest. The restart will then be set for Tuesday when Antonio Conte will be able to gradually rejoin the national team, but in the meantime the Napoli coach has used this week to push from a physical point of view also with the so-called alternatives. At the restart, with the arrival of the Italian Cup midweek, everyone will be needed. Among the players who remained at Castel Volturno also the members of a not bad trident: not only Simeone and Neres, but also Cyril Ngonge who has recently climbed the ranks and yesterday expressed himself about his moment in Naples.
From starter to first alternative
It seemed there was no room for Ngonge, on the market until the last few days and also behind Neres, a 30 million euro investment and protagonist of a start to the season scoring goals and assists at every turn. The Belgian actually managed to convince Conte that for weeks he has preferred him to the Brazilian also due to his sacrifice in the defensive phase. It thus became Politano’s first substitution and also earned a call from Belgium in the previous break. “Against teams that attack the 5 channels we lower a winger and not a midfielder. Politano does it perfectly, but Ngonge also did it perfectly with Lecce, he has similar characteristics otherwise then you have to lower a midfielder”, Conte’s words in the conference before Atalanta who marked the change in hierarchy with Ngonge as the first substitution and Neres diverted to the left in place of Kvara who, however, Conte often kept on the pitch until the end.
Ngonge and Conte’s requests
The Belgian striker spoke yesterday, interviewed by Radio Crc, about the coach’s instructions and how he has carved out a role for himself in this Napoli: “What does mister Conte tell me? To help in the defensive phase. It’s important that we also do the sacrifice of helping the team when not in possession and afterwards, when we have the ball, of being incisive in the final part of the pitch in 1-on-1 situations and making the difference. These are the most important indications that the coach gives us. The plays we make in training now we memorize them every week.” And again: “In Naples I immediately felt good. Arriving at such an important club meant a lot for my career. I’m not someone who is bothered by pressure, on the contrary, it gives me energy. And here in Naples it impressed me you feel the love for football, but when you experience it up close it’s even more extraordinary. The passion of all these people is incredible.