Antonio Conte has called on his Napoli side to finish the job when they host Cagliari in Friday’s Serie A title decider at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Afrosport reports.
The Partenopei lead the table one point ahead of Inter Milan, who play Como away from home in the other simultaneous title decider.
Victory will be enough to hand Napoli their fourth Serie A title and Conte’s fifth, having won previously with Juventus (three) and Inter (one).
“There’s a strong desire to play. We are coming off a very stressful season, and clearly this could be the final match that closes out a season in a new city and a new environment for me,” Conte said.
“We are responsible for giving Napoli and the fans something beautiful and historic.
“It’s been a short week, but full of emotions. We know well that the mind can go anywhere. It’s the most important game of the season. Before, we used to say important, but this one, without a doubt, defines a season. It decides what kind of season we’ve had. Whether it was excellent or exceptional.
“We need to work offensively and defensively together. We know very well that hard work brought us here today. Now, we need to try to finish the job. When we drew against Inter, I said, ‘If we want to, we can.’ Today, the team knows very well that the job needs to be completed.”
Conte will be the first Serie A manager to win the title with three different clubs. He, however, downplayed the significance of such a feat.
“I might be a specialist in victories, but also in defeats. My career speaks for itself,” he added.
“If you look at everything I’ve lost: three Champions League Finals, one World Cup Final, one European Championship Final and one UEFA Cup Final. I could list many more.
“I try to be a specialist in helping the club and the players. I don’t want people to forget that in a career, there are victories and defeats. Those losses have built up a thick skin, sometimes even a harsh one. This is what makes me tough at times.”
One game left, one point in it, a potential Scudetto play-off. Tonight is going to be huge
pic.twitter.com/QJE0djHN0r
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 23, 2025
Conte will not be in the dugout as he serves a one-game ban after receiving a red card in the penultimate game at Parma last week, and is pained about it but will have his heart connected to the match from the stands.
“It hurts not to be there,” he stated. “After a season like this, you want to be there with your fans to lead the team. I have great trust in my staff, as always, in the fans, and in the environment. Even if I’m watching from the stands, my heart will be there—or rather, two hearts.
“It’s very difficult to get distracted. It only comes when I am eating, at lunch or dinner, maybe not even lunch, just dinner. Or when I am sleeping. It’s inevitable.”
The title race will go to a playoff between Napoli and Inter Milan on Monday, should both teams be level on points after Friday’s games.
