Antonio Conte said Napoli’s opening Champions League game at Manchester City will pit his “students against the teachers” of Pep Guardiola’s side, with the Italian asking Kevin De Bruyne for advice about his former team.
Napoli will make their debut in the 36-club format in their meeting with City on Thursday. While they were last in the competition two years ago, Conte was not in charge then. He views his side as still in development despite being Serie A champions.
“We’re definitely playing against a team where history speaks for itself,” Conte said. “They are a top club with a top coach. We arrive with great humility having had an amazing year last year and are proud to have that.
“We consider ourselves to be almost like students coming to play against the teachers. I don’t think that’s incorrect to say. From our part, there’s definitely a desire to understand and to play against these very powerful and important clubs to see how we’re progressing.”
De Bruyne signed for Napoli on a free transfer in the summer after departing the club where he played for a decade. Conte said: “I’ve spoken to Kevin, I’ve asked him a few things [about City], he’s been a part of this club for 10 years and had a great coach like Pep Guardiola. Kevin will be excited to be playing but I’m hoping that after the starting whistle he will find his feet and remember that he’s playing for our great Napoli and contribute like he has been doing.”
Scott McTominay joined Napoli from Manchester United in summer 2024 and was integral to Napoli’s title triumph last season, being voted Serie A player of the year. “I knew him when he played with Manchester United because I coached two times in England [with Chelsea and Tottenham],” Conte said.
“I saw great potential in this player and was [asking] why Scott McTominay is not dominant in England because he has great potential. When the possibility happened to sign him for Napoli, honestly in the first moment I didn’t believe that it could happen. It happened and now he is enjoying it.
“For a player like him, he was born in Manchester United and there is a point in your career and life where maybe you need to change and to try another experience. It happened with us and we are really really happy because we are not only talking about a fantastic player but a fantastic man.”
Rasmus Højlund also signed on loan from United in the summer and scored on his debut against Fiorentina. Conte believes a fresh challenge will reinvigorate him. “In my opinion we are talking about a player with great potential,” the head coach said.
“He is only 22 so he has a whole career ahead of him. When we spoke with him, I felt he was really happy to get this new experience and he said he was ready and wanted to play for me and for Napoli. Now it’s up to me to improve him and to grow and to become a really top striker.”
