Antonio Conte, the head coach of Napoli, expressed his satisfaction with his team's 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the second round of the group stage in the Europa League, affirming that the team delivered a balanced performance despite the difficulty of the match.

Conte said: "Kevin De Bruyne, compared to other signings, comes from a different reality; he has spent years with Manchester City and played at the highest possible level. He is a good young man and works hard. I understand his desire to play, but there are also substitutions. I want to win, and if I make substitutions, it's with the intention of improving the team. It is natural for the media to discuss these matters based on results; what matters is that everyone gives their all for the team."

Conte also touched on the club's tactical options, stating: "We have two paths: either continue down this road with four players in midfield, as I believe we have significant room for improvement, or we can play in a 4-3-3 formation as we did at the end of the match, alternating between a stronger midfield and a more technical one. What’s important is that everyone sacrifices in both phases."

He also commented on the previous loss to Milan and the team's performance development: "The performance in Milan did not bother me, but the two goals came from situations we could have handled much better. We talked about how to improve. Today, I see a very mature team in terms of managing matches, but we must not lose the characteristics we possess, such as aggression and healthy fear, as it makes players run back. We try to push forward, and when we face a breach, we must regain the ball immediately."