'No chemistry, no desire to fight' - How Antonio Conte and Napoli reached breaking point just months after Serie A title success

Conte is obviously no stranger to controversy. The notoriously combustible coach has repeatedly fallen out with his employers - and usually over perceived parsimony in the transfer market. His legendary lament at Juventus that "You cannot eat at a €100 restaurant with €10 in your pocket" has become a part of the lexicon of Italian football. Even by Conte's standards, though, it was jarring to hear him bemoaning a lack of investment before he'd even taken charge of his first match as Napoli coach last year.

In that particular instance, though, Conte did have some cause for complaint, as the horribly handled Victor Osimhen affair held up the club's summer recruitment for far longer than it should have done. The equally-outspoken Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis also acknowledged that last season's Scudetto success was made all the more remarkable for the fact that Conte had had to deal with the sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for financial reasons midway through their title challenge.

"He managed through incidents and injuries to make do with what he had, using not one, but four or five different tactical systems," De Laurentiis enthused at the trophy parade in May. "Conte showed the whole world that systems are useless and that all you need is a great knowledge of what football really means. So, for him who took us all the way to win the second Scudetto in three years, I ask for an applause, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

However, in the very same speech that De Laurentiis used to thank Conte, he also wished him "continuing success in his professional life" - which appeared to confirm rumours that the coach had already decided to part company with the Partenopei after just one season in charge - and return to Juventus.

Conte insisted all along, though, that he wouldn't make a decision on his future until after he had spoken to De Laurentiis and, after showdown talks with the president, he revealed that he would continue as coach because the club had acknowledged that certain mistakes had been made over the course of the campaign.

"I think everyone is aware of what happened in January," Conte told Sky Sport Italia in June. "During the season, some things didn't really make me happy. New players arrived only in the last week [of the summer window]: (Scott) McTominay, (Billy) Gilmour, (David) Neres and (Romelu) Lukaku. Honestly, I didn’t like that.

"But I believe I was good at accepting the situation and not giving excuses to my players and myself. When you sign [a contract], there are honours and duties. But when we spoke, they admitted there had been errors. It happens, though, in the first year of marriage, so once I was reassured on certain things, we agreed to continue and now we must defend the Scudetto."

Unfortunately, this particular marriage could very easily end in divorce - but not because of any fresh tension over transfers between Conte and the club.

Napoli pretty much gave Conte everything they wanted during the summer, signing eight players for a combined cost of roughly €200 million (when the obligatory fees are taken into account), while at the same time making free agent Kevin De Bruyne their second-highest earner after Lukaku. By Serie A standards, this constituted a colossal spending spree - and yet Conte has used Napoli's recruitment as an excuse for his side's patchy performances so far this season.

"Last year we won a championship where the players pushed themselves to the limit; we had unity in every way," Conte told Sky after a shocking 6-2 Champions League loss at PSV. "In my opinion, nine new players are too many.

"We opened the transfer window because we were forced to do so. We tried to strengthen the squad but it takes time and patience. Bringing nine new players into the dressing room isn't easy. The old guys, myself and those from last year, need to step up our game and find unity again."

However, while Napoli looked like their old selves in beating Inter four days after being embarrassed in Eindhoven, they've struggled ever since to score goals due to a general lack of cohesion and creativity.

The loss of De Bruyne to a serious hamstring injury sustained while converting a penalty in the Inter game has understandably had a devastating impact on Napoli's attack, and partly explains why the goals have dried up for Rasmus Hojlund in recent weeks - which is a major problem given Lorenzo Lucca is looking like a poor signing and Lukaku is still not back to full fitness. Indeed, Napoli have now failed to score in their last three games in all competitions.

However, what's really troubling Conte is his team's work-rate, as the Partenopei are not playing with anything like the same dynamism as last season. The obvious explanation is that a team unburdened by European football last season is still getting used to the added stress and strain of competing in the Champions League. Some supporters and pundits are pointing the finger at Conte, though.

For all his success in reviving toiling teams and winning championships in his first season in charge, Conte has a dreadful record in continental competition, and the argument has always been that it's simply not possible to play Conte's "200kmph" brand of football every three-to-four days. For this very reason, Branislav Jasurek, the agent of Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, made headlines in Italy for telling a Slovakian podcast that his client might not be physically able to see out the remainder of his contract.

"What Conte requires is brutally demanding," Jasurek said. "In terms of statistics, the coach's running requirements are incomparable to anyone else."

Jasurek later insisted that his comments were made in jest, but plenty of other observers believe that Conte's reluctance to rotate his key players is a serious problem. Furthermore, in news that won't come as a surprise to Diego Costa, Conte has also effectively been accused of being a poor communicator by Noah Lang, who has started just once since joining from PSV during the summer for €25m.

"I don't know what else to do," the winger told Pickx Sports after Napoli were routed by his former club at the Philips Stadion. "I'm training hard. I don't speak to him (Conte) very often. I think I've spoken to him once. But it's better not to say anything. I have no other choice. I signed a contract here, so I have to accept the situation as it is right now."

It could change very soon, though. 

After two lifeless displays in the dour draws with Como and Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of the month, Conte implored his players to resuscitate their season by beating Bologna just before the international break. However, after watching Napoli slump to a lame 2-0 loss at the Dall'Ara that saw them slide from first to fourth in the Serie A standings, he unintentionally evoked memories of the comedy 'Weekend at Bernie's' by stating that he had no intention of "accompanying a corpse" for the remainder of the season.

"Heart transplants aren't an option," Conte told DAZN. "Each of us needs to rediscover our spirit and our grit. We needed more energy in everything. What's disappointing is that they showed more positivity and desire than us, and that should make us reflect. It's the fifth defeat we've suffered this season. 

"I'll talk to the club, but three or four months have passed and there's no chemistry, no desire to fight together. I don't know if we'll be able to change the situation. One thing is to talk about the pitch, technique and tactics, but when you see other things, I'm sorry, it means I am not doing a good job. Or that someone doesn't want to listen to me..."

At that stage, speculation was rife that Conte was seriously considering quitting. De Laurentiis dismissed such talk as "nonsense" and claimed that "between me and Conte there has always existed a special harmony that unites men who use the 3 C's: character, competence, and courage."

Conte nonetheless felt compelled to take a break, with the 56-year-old heading north to Turin to spend a week with his family as his assistant Cristian Stellini oversaw training while several members of Napoli's squad were away on international duty. Conte returned on Monday, reportedly revitalised and doubly determined to turn his team's season around. The next week feels vital, though, with Napoli facing two home games, against Atalanta and Qarabag, that they'll be fully expected to win.

In a way, though, the performances will be of greater significance than the results, with Napoli's players having been accused by former striker Roberto Sosa of playing as if they "want to get rid of the coach". If they produce another spiritless showing on Saturday, Conte would likely grant them that wish.