Antonio Conte under fire as Napoli stumble in Serie A title chase

By SABC Sport
13th November 2025

Antonio Conte's tenure at Napoli is facing growing scrutiny after the club's 2-0 defeat to Bologna on November 9, which snapped their winning streak and exposed ongoing vulnerabilities.

In the aftermath, Napoli released a statement confirming the head coach is on a pre-scheduled three-day break in Turin, agreed upon with the club weeks ago, and won't resume training at Castel Volturno until November 17.

The optics of Conte's trip, hot on the heels of a lackluster Serie A loss, have sparked intense media buzz in Italy about possible fractures in the dressing room.

Sources claim the 56-year-old unleashed a scathing tirade at halftime and post-match, berating players for their lethargy and wastefulness, which has reportedly rattled some in the squad.

Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis wasted no time in batting down exit rumors, calling them a "fairy tale" in comments on November 11. "He's a real man," De Laurentiis affirmed. "I'm proud to have him by my side. There's no truth to these claims, he's fully committed, and he has my unwavering support."

During Conte's brief absence, longtime assistant Cristian Stellini has taken the reins at training, keeping preparations on track for the festive fixture pile-up.

Napoli hold fourth place in the Serie A standings after 11 matches on goal difference, but the Bologna reverse, a side pushing for Europe, has tightened the race at the top and amplified concerns over the team's blunt attack and shaky backline.

The ex-Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter maestro, who took the reins at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the summer of 2024, must channel his renowned intensity to steady the ship.

His return coincides with a brutal November-December slate: home Serie A tests against Atalanta on November 22 and Juventus on December 7; an away trip to Roma on November 30; Champions League group clashes with QarabaÃ„Ÿ at home on November 25 and Benfica away on December 10; plus a Coppa Italia last-32 showdown versus Cagliari on December 3.

With the Scudetto within sight but rivals closing in, Conte's next moves could make or break Napoli's season, reviving the grit that fueled his past glories or hastening a Neapolitan nightmare.