Antonio Conte is seeking insight from Kevin De Bruyne as Napoli prepares to face Manchester City in their Champions League opener. Conte, acknowledging the significant challenge, has described the upcoming match as a clash between "students against the teachers," highlighting the respect he has for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side.
De Bruyne's summer transfer to Napoli after a decade with Manchester City adds an intriguing layer to the match. During his time with City, De Bruyne became a legend, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. Conte has tapped into De Bruyne's extensive knowledge of City and Guardiola, hoping it will give Napoli an edge. Conte stated that he spoke with De Bruyne and asked him a few things about Manchester City. He noted that De Bruyne had been a part of the club for 10 years and played under a great coach like Pep Guardiola.
Despite Napoli's recent Serie A title win, Conte considers them underdogs in this Champions League encounter. He emphasized the humility with which Napoli approaches the game, recognizing the strength and history of their opponents. Conte sees the match as an opportunity for Napoli to gauge their progress against one of Europe's elite teams.
De Bruyne has quickly adapted to his new environment in Naples, scoring twice in his first three Serie A appearances. Conte is crafting a new role for De Bruyne, aiming to maximize his playmaking abilities. Conte acknowledged De Bruyne's genius and expressed his commitment to creating a role that allows him to fully utilize his capabilities. Conte is trying to grow his football knowledge too and is trying to balance Kevin De Bruyne within the team.
The return to Manchester will undoubtedly be an emotional one for De Bruyne, who is fondly remembered by City fans. Guardiola has said he and City are looking forward to welcoming De Bruyne back to the Etihad. The club is even planning to erect a statue in his honor outside the stadium.
While De Bruyne's inside knowledge and current form are boosts for Napoli, Manchester City remains a formidable opponent. Conte is also mindful of the potential distractions for De Bruyne, hoping that once the game begins, he will focus on contributing to Napoli's success.
Other former Manchester United players, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, could also feature for Napoli. McTominay, who joined Napoli last summer, was integral to their Serie A title triumph and was voted Serie A Player of the Year. Hojlund, on loan from Manchester United, scored on his debut against Fiorentina.
The match marks Napoli's return to the Champions League after missing out last season. Conte is eager to compete in Europe's premier club competition and test his team against the best. He acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge, especially with the new league phase format. Conte described the match as "the moment of truth" for him and his team. Guardiola, when asked if Manchester City were the favorites to win the Champions League this year, responded sarcastically, "Apparently we are not".
