ROME (AFP) – Antonio Conte is a hard taskmaster but the exploits of his Napoli side so far this season have him eulogising about how the “players are ready to die, in football terms, for this jersey.”
Napoli under Conte are a team transformed from the one that mounted the worst defence of a Serie A title last season, finishing 41 points off champions Inter Milan.
They head into tomorrow’s tough home match with third-placed Atalanta with a four-point lead over Inter at the top and bidding for a sixth successive victory.
Aside from Conte’s arrival the signings of Scottish duo Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour from Manchester United and Brighton respectively as well as veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, from Chelsea, have sparked this revival.
Lukaku’s goal in the impressive 2-0 victory away at AC Milan on Tuesday was the Belgian star’s fourth of the campaign in just eight appearances.
