Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 7:25 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 7:27 p.m.
Antonio Conte (56 years old) moved his front in the war of declarations from Inter to Juventus, another club where he coached and won the title. After losing the direct match in Turin on Sunday (0-3), Napoli's coach attacked Luciano Spalletti, who had spoken of the Azzurri as “former champions”.
If Antonio Conte no longer speaks to the press for more than three months before Serie A matches, Luciano Spalletti decided to do the same, so that the Juventus – Napoli 3-0 derby was preceded by a “silenzio stampa”.
The coach who had several verbal clashes with Cristi Chivu and those in the leadership of Inter moved from the rival Nerazzurra to the “Old Lady”. Defeated without right of appeal at the Allianz Stadium, Conte was furious after Spalletti referred to Napoli as the “former champions of Italy”.
Antonio Conte suffered the eight defeats this season only away from home / Photo: Imago
Conte did not agree with the Juventus coach's assessment of the result and the appearance of the game either: “It was a very misleading result. We weren't dominated at all. Spalletti called us former champions of Italy? Honestly, I prefer to switch off after the game and not look at what other managers have to say.
Conte: “I would never have said that. Spalletti is a great coach, but he has to be careful when he speaks”
If he said something like that, it's unfortunate, especially because we still have the scudetto emblem on our shirts and we have to show respect. I would never have said such a thing. Spalletti is a great coach, but he needs to be careful when he speaks. I wish him much success!”.
We face matches every three days with a limited pool available. If the championship started today, I think everyone would place Napoli between eighth and tenth places. We want to shock like in the Italian Supercup, but in the long run we have paid the price for the injury situation
– Antonio Contethe coach of Napoli
Antonio Conte was also challenged to respond to the revelations made recently by his former Chelsea striker, Diego Costa: “I don't waste my energy reading what anyone says.
I know full well that there are smart people and dumber people in football. He was with me for a year, we won together. After that, he wanted to leave three times in the same season!”.
Conte is a person who doesn't trust others, who thinks he knows everything. You don't enjoy training with him. He's always angry, always with a long face. He probably doesn't have sex at home because he's a bitter guy. It's a shame because the titles he won at Chelsea he achieved with me… Nobody appreciated him and that's why he didn't last long at Chelsea
– Diego Costathe former Chelsea striker
