Conte cools title talk as Atalanta approaches
Antonio Conte insisted that Napoli's chances of a Scudetto triumph in his first season in charge required more work rather than prayers.
Napoli is top of the pile in Serie A, with a 2-0 win over AC Milan in midweek putting it four points ahead of defending champion Inter Milan in the early season standings.
It's a remarkable turnaround from last term, with Napoli finishing 10th in its Scudetto defence, seeing both Rudi Garcia and Walter Mazzarri lose their jobs as head coach.
Since Conte started his Napoli tenure with a 3-0 defeat to Hellas Verona on the opening day of the season, it has gone undefeated in their next nine games.
That includes winning the past five straight league games in a row, the best run since Luciano Spalletti's side won eight between January and February 2023.
This season, only Barcelona (10) has won more games than Napoli (eight) across the top five European leagues, although Conte was reserved when asked about his team's chances of winning the title.
"I am a man of faith, even practically, and I know only one person who performs them," Conte said.
"I always pray, even for the team, that they are well. In addition to my family, there is also a prayer for the players.
"We must work, all of us, from the cook and the kit man to create something beautiful that can give extra points in a championship.
"We cannot make any mistakes in this, we are not in a position to make mistakes.
"Then, football miracles have always happened, but you have to work to hope it happens, it's not enough to pray."
Napoli welcomes Atalanta to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Conte aiming to become the first coach in the club's history to win each of his first six home games in Serie A.
Since 2022, Napoli has won four of its five league meetings against Atalanta. In this period, Gian Piero Gasperini's side has only lost more games to Inter Milan.
But Atalanta has impressed under Gasperini, winning the UEFA Europa League last season with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the final.
Gasperini finished behind Luis de la Fuente, Xabi Alonso and winner Carlo Ancelotti for the Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy, an accolade given to football's best coach last season at last week's Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Conte was full of praise for his opposite number, however, saying: "They have been in the [UEFA] Champions League for years, it is a team that today must be counted among the strongest, without a doubt.
"Credit to the club, to Gasperini, who has done an extraordinary job in all these years, and I have great respect for Gian Piero.
"When I played at Juventus he was coach of the youth team.
"I respect him a lot. Through hard work, he has achieved results. You don't win the Europa League if you are not strong."
