Conte's Napoli poised for hectic schedule
Antonio Conte believes playing twice a week will be "the moment of truth" for Napoli, which visits Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday (AEST) before travelling to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League next week.
After a comfortable 2-0 win against Sassuolo in its opening game of the season, Napoli required a last-gasp goal from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to secure a 1-0 victory over Cagliari prior to the international break.
It then strengthened its attacking options on transfer deadline day, signing out-of-favour Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund on a season-long loan.
Napoli enters the Fiorentina clash unbeaten in 14 league matches since February, and the Partenopei’s record against Fiorentina makes for pleasant viewing, having avoided defeat in its past seven league visits to Stadio Artemio Franchi, losing just once in its past 15 trips.
Fiorentina, which has won only two of its past 10 Serie A encounters with Napoli, is yet to register a league win this season, beginning with two draws.
Discussing his side's schedule after the international break, Conte said: "It's the moment of truth. Yes, we will start playing every three days and it will certainly be a complex season for us.
"In the first two games, we relied on certainties. Now every three days there will be new players to be inserted and clearly we will need a little patience and understanding if there are mistakes.
"We will have to be patient and insert them. The new ones also arrive with great expectations, wearing the shirt with the Scudetto badge. We must be tolerant in judgments if things do not go well."
Napoli will visit Etihad Stadium for its UEFA Champions League curtain-raiser on Friday (AEST). Fiorentina, meanwhile, must wait until October to start its UEFA Conference League campaign.
