Napoli go into their final Champions League match of the season against Chelsea with a hampered injury list, which has seriously derailed Antonio Conte’s plans. Romelu Lukaku has just returned from a nagging hamstring injury that kept him out for most of the season, and goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is also away with a problem. Doctors performed ankle surgery on winger David Neres in London and he will miss several months. Kevin DeBruyne remains unfit after hamstring surgery on the right leg in October, and midfielder Andre-Frank Anguissa is now also struggling with back problems after a previous muscle injury.
Injuries hit Napoli at the worst possible time
The time of these absences could hardly be worse for Napoli. The Italian champions are on the brink of elimination with eight points from seven games played, and they need to beat Chelsea to keep their European dream alive. Their home form has also been affected by injuries. One of their biggest setbacks was a heavy defeat to Juventus, which left Napoli nine points behind in the Serie A title race. Chelsea are also trying to qualify and therefore Napoli’s lack of squad depth poses a risk to their intensity and tactical versatility in a match that requires optimal physical effort.
Conte is forced to gamble on youth and thin rotation
Conte has turned to squad players and young prospects to fill the gaps. Academy graduate Anton Vergara now plays in attack and newcomer Young joins the team with little training experience. Lukaku’s return brings relief in itself, especially as De Bruyne was not included in the Champions League squad and the Belgian striker can join the squad instead. This option gives Conte flexibility in dealing with injuries and protecting balance during a demanding European season ahead. Nevertheless, due to the lack of rotation options, some players will be working with heavy workloads, which will contribute to fatigue and the possibility of additional injuries.
European history offers hope despite the well-known crisis
Napoli has a history of failure in Europe when players are spread thin due to injuries. This season is no different, as past campaigns have seen squad depth as a determining factor. Conte himself has been in a similar crisis with other clubs he has played in, but has sometimes been able to use it as a way to rally the team. It has taken eleven points in history to escape elimination from the Champions League, and regardless of the situation, Napoli is on the brink of survival and has the chance to beat the opponent, Chelsea.
Lukaku returns, but Napoli enters a defining period with an empty field
Although Lukaku can now play, doctors currently see no hope for others. Doctors do not expect De Bruyne to resume play until the spring, ruling him out for the rest of the Champions League campaign. Neres will probably only play in April and the time when Milinkovic-Savic return is not yet clear. Anguissa has a back problem that will be assessed on a game-by-game basis. Napoli thus operates with an entity that defines time with minimal reinforcements and so resilience, team cohesion, tactical control and deep fan support would be crucial in the coming weeks as the matches in all competitions would take place every three days.
Conte has reiterated time and time again that it is mental stamina that will keep the club alive, with players risking their health without any training time, but the belief, organization and emotional support of the fans can still turn the tide in Napoli’s favor at key moments in this grueling and brutal season.
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