Conte feeling pressure to deliver title to Napoli
Having already secured his side's place in the UEFA Champions League for next season, Antonio Conte described winning another Scudetto with Napoli as the "icing on the cake."
League leader Napoli has been in sublime form this season, but slipped up last time out and was held to a 2-2 draw by Genoa, allowing second-placed Inter Milan to cut the gap.
With 78 points to its name, it remains a point ahead of Inter with two matches remaining, and there is a chance that the Serie A title could be decided by a play-off if the top two teams finish level on points.
Napoli, though, holds its fate in its own hands and could clinch the title with a win over Parma on Monday (AEST), if Inter loses out at home to fifth-placed Lazio.
But it has struggled against newly-promoted teams of late. After a bright start when it won all three home games against it, Napoli has earned just one point from two away matches in the second half of the season – losing to Como and drawing with Venezia.
Speaking ahead of Monday's (AEST) clash, Conte acknowledged feeling a sense of responsibility to deliver the Scudetto to Naples.
"I feel a great deal of responsibility, perhaps too much," the Italian said.
"I feel, however, that I have a great weight on my shoulders.
"I have broad shoulders to handle these situations, but I can't deny that I have big pressure that doesn't exist in other places."
Three-time league champion Napoli won the title most recently in the 2022-2023 season, but suffered a middling 10th-place finish in last season’s campaign.
"We have already created a beautiful cake by returning to the [UEFA] Champions League," Conte added.
"Now let's put the icing on the cake! We would create history and be remembered forever in Naples.
"We have already done a lot for the club and the city, but we should have the ambition to write ourselves into memory."
Napoli has been one of Italy's best-performing sides this season. It has conceded just 27 goals, the second-lowest total in Europe's top five leagues, behind only Athletic Club in LaLiga (26).
Additionally, it has kept 17 clean sheets in the league this season – more than any other side in the top five leagues.
Only twice has Napoli kept more clean sheets in Serie A at the end of a 20-team competition: in 2022-2023 (18) and in 2017-2018 (19).
Conte also mentioned that midfielder Scott McTominay had picked up a knock during training, but did not disclose any more details.
"McTominay had a few problems during the week, but we will always find the solution regardless with a group of guys who are overcoming important difficulties," he said.
McTominay is enjoying a stellar campaign in Naples, having scored 11 goals and provided six assists in league action this season.
The Scotland international is now only the second midfielder to have been involved in at least 15 goals in his first season in Serie A in the past 20 campaigns, after Hernanes did so in 2010-2011 with 16 goal contributions.
