Conte rues 'pretty' Napoli in Torino loss
Napoli were replaced at the Serie A summit on Saturday after falling to defeat to Torino, leaving Antonio Conte left to rue missed chances.
Antonio Conte believed Napoli gifted Torino three precious Serie A points after his forward line was "too busy trying to be pretty" in the final third.
Conte watched on as Giovanni Simeone's first-half goal at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino dealt the defending champion just its second league defeat of the campaign.
Indeed, Napoli has lost two of its last three Serie A games, as many defeats as it suffered in the previous 31 in the top-flight (W20 D9).
The loss saw it replaced at the summit of the standings by Inter, which beat Roma 1-0 later in the day thanks to Ange-Yoan Bonny's goal in the sixth minute of the match.
"We moved the ball well and created situations in the first half, but were too busy trying to be pretty, and basically we created their goal for them," Conte said.
"There was more energy after the break, but not enough. So congratulations to Torino, but the fact is we did it all ourselves today."
Napoli's form has come as no surprise to Conte, who continues to play down its chances of retaining the Scudetto this campaign.
"I had said at the start of the season that I know football well, so I assumed these were perfectly normal things to say. We are building something new here," he said.
"We've got to work well, and our season will depend on how the new arrivals grow and improve.
"We have a game every three days, we do not have time to work in training, so we've got to improve every time and have patience before seeing those improvements."
Conte was quick to point out his concerns in defence after Billy Gilmour's error allowed Simeone to steal in and round Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and score.
His side has conceded seven goals in its last five Serie A games, one less than it had managed in its previous 15 matches in the top flight.
"We conceded the goal that we created, so that was nothing to do with the defence," Conte said.
"We've always got to work as a team. Unfortunately, today there was that ricochet that accidentally came off Gilmour – who had a great game overall – and it set up Simeone.
"Our football sees us constantly in the opposition half, so it's natural there will be a few counter-attacks, and we need to get used to that.
"I don't remember seeing defensive problems, we've got to start accepting there will be duels, and we must do better."
