Napoli 'absorbing the masters' teachings' in Champions League but Antonio Conte hopes to 'surpass' European giants after 'carving out role' for Kevin De Bruyne

Napoli suffered their second defeat of the season at the weekend, going down 1-0 to Torino. Giovanni Simeone capitalised on a defensive error, as the ball fell kindly into his path. He weaved past two defenders and slotted it past Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Napoli created several chances of their own. Noa Lang cut the ball back from the wide area to Kevin De Bruyne, but the Belgian could not find the target. Elmas also found himself on the end of a Lang cross, only to miss the goal. Lang thought he had equalised in the 92nd minute when Politano’s shot was saved, but the rebound he put into the net was ruled offside after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). This defeat sees Napoli slip to third in the table, behind AC Milan, who top the standings with 16 points, while Inter occupy second place.

On the eve of Napoli’s Champions League clash against PSV, Conte outlined his ambitions, likening the competition to a master from whom lessons must be learnt. He said: "Our ambition is to understand where we are and how we’re performing in this Champions League. Last year we didn’t compete in any European competition, so this year is a new journey for us. The Champions League must be a school for us, and we must be good students who absorb the teachings of the masters, whom we hope to one day surpass."

Conte also stressed the importance of patience, particularly with the new players. "We need to be patient. These players need time to settle, and our season will largely depend on how well they integrate into the team," he added.

Napoli signed De Bruyne on a free transfer after his contract with Manchester City expired. The attacking midfielder has already scored three goals and provided two assists in all competitions. However, De Bruyne’s arrival has presented a tactical challenge for Conte, who is seeking the best way to integrate him alongside last season’s MVP, Scott McTominay. While Conte has experimented with a 4-1-4-1 formation using both players, he feels it can create imbalance. He is considering a 4-3-3 setup, rotating the two based on the opponent. Former Italian coach Fabio Capello has also encouraged Conte to find a solution to accommodate both, as they could be key to Napoli defending their title this season.

Conte praised De Bruyne’s evolution as a player, highlighting his growing involvement in the team game: "Kevin is evolving to become more involved in the team. I see him very engaged, also because he enjoys playing. He has raised our level. Kevin is now expressing his potential at a high level, not just in his usual role, but in what he is contributing with us.

"He is a player who helps us build, also through his personality. We are carving out a role for him, and he seems very involved and happy."

Regarding McTominay, who missed Napoli’s recent game due to an ankle injury, Conte provided an update: "He hasn’t trained in recent days and only took part in part of today’s session. A lot will depend on how he feels. If he’s ready to play, we’ll be happy; otherwise, we’ll adopt another solution."

Conte added that respect must be given to PSV who are reigning Dutch champions and the best possible lineup will be put out: "We have to try to put together a balanced lineup. We're playing against a team that won the Dutch championship last year and is always a revelation in the Champions League. We always try to do our best when choosing our lineup."

Napoli will face PSV as they aim to make it two wins from two games in the Champions League. Conte will be hoping that De Bruyne can step up in McTominay’s absence and guide the team with his experience.