Antonio Conte is no 'football Taliban!' Napoli coach hailed for adjusting to Kevin De Bruyne arrival and Romelu Lukaku injury as Fabio Capello sings ex-Chelsea boss and Max Allegri's praises

The pre-season loss of Lukaku to injury coupled with the many new additions to the Napoli squad posed some danger for the Italian tactician, but the reigning Italian champions are off to a strong start this season. They are top of Serie A with a perfect record thanks to the incorporation of summer signing De Bruyne and the presence of Rasmus Hojlund, a late arrival from Manchester United. 

Meanwhile, Milan have undergone an overhaul since Allegri was appointed ahead of the new campaign. The have a new-look midfield with Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot doing well alongside Youssouf Fofana despite promising big-money signing Ardon Jashari being ruled out through an injury.

It is the flexibility of both coaches, Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport, that makes them among the best in the game. 

“Both Conte and Allegri always have their teams in control, even though they don't have fixed formations," he said. "Both know how to be flexible, adapting to the material at hand, without tactical prejudices like football Talibans. They are exceptional at organising and recognising players, even when they have to buy players on the market." 

Asked what the key difference between the pair are, he added: "The way they communicate externally. Both have strong personalities and can always be very direct, but Max is more corporate and composed, while Antonio tends to complain more, even pointing the finger at the club."

Belgian international De Bruyne’s move has been hailed as transformative for Napoli. The 34-year-old already has two goals to his name in Serie A already, but Capello stressed there are still challenges ahead for the coach.

"Conte had certainly already established some rules, but De Bruyne's arrival and Lukaku's injury forced the coach to reshape the team," he said. "For example, with the Belgian centre-forward, we looked more for the layoff, the ball to his body to let his teammates move forward, while with Hojlund, we logically go deeper. The key, however, will be to increasingly make De Bruyne comfortable, the man who can help you make the leap in quality, even in the Champions League, where Napoli must play a leading role."

Lukaku’s absence has forced Conte to reconsider Napoli’s frontline dynamics, the 32-year-old suffered a high-grade lesion of the rectus femoris in his left thigh, as per reports, during a friendly against Olympiacos and has begun rehabilitation. Last season, Lukaku was crucial, registering 14 goals and 10 assists in Serie A. Napoli now face a critical test of squad depth, balancing the need for immediate attacking output with long-term Champions League ambitions.

Napoli aim to maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season while managing Champions League registration deadlines and squad rotation. De Bruyne’s integration and Lukaku’s recovery will be key, with Conte’s decisions shaping both domestic and European campaigns. Meanwhile, Milan must contend with a tough two-week period including a trip to Juventus. The clash of midfield stars Modric and De Bruyne, combined with the tactical battle of Allegri versus Conte, ensures a high-stakes showdown with ramifications for the Serie A title race.