Napoli In Crisis: Antonio Conte Steps Away As Injuries Mount

The mood in Naples has shifted. After a damaging 2‑0 loss to Bologna, the reigning champions SSC Napoli returned to training under familiar circumstances, but with a very unfamiliar atmosphere. 

Their head coach, Antonio Conte, is absent. He is reportedly in Turin taking a break previously agreed with the club, and will not rejoin training until November 17, with assistant ­coach Cristian Stellini taking sessions in his stead.

That absence, alongside a mounting list of injuries and a club culture that appears to be fraying, means Napoli’s current training week is far from business as usual. The situation at Castel Volturno is not just a scheduled pause, it may represent a symbolic moment for a club wrestling with fatigue, frustration, and uncertainty.

Return To Training Amid Absences And Tension

Napoli’s training ground reopened following the Bologna defeat. The club emphasised that Conte’s leave had already been approved, pointing out that the coach is simply using a block of rest time that was scheduled. 

However, the timing could hardly be worse: the squad is thin, several key players are missing, and the head coach is absent at a moment when leadership is most needed. The list of injured or unavailable players is significant. Most notably, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne picked up a serious thigh injury while scoring a penalty against Inter Milan, and the scans confirmed a high‑grade tear that will keep him sidelined until at least the new year. 

Meanwhile, forward Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Frank Anguissa, defender Leonardo Spinazzola, and midfielder Billy Gilmour are all among those missing or doubtful. The club already suffered a defeat in October where players such as the Manchester United duo, Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay were unavailable, further exposing the depth issue.

When a coach known for his exacting demands steps away, even temporarily, the symbolism resonates. With injuries piling up and no further board‑level discussions scheduled (the club’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is abroad), the image is of a club holding its breath rather than charging forward.

The Future Of Conte At Napoli: Meeting, Mood And Momentum

Conte’s absence is not just physical—it appears to reflect a deeper malaise. After the defeat to Bologna, the coach launched a rare public blast at his squad, blaming himself but also making clear his frustration with the level of hunger he witnessed. 

That kind of visible anger can rally a team—but it can also fracture one, especially when the results don’t improve. Reports suggest that earlier this week, a meeting took place between Conte and the club’s board, discussing his future at Napoli. 

While the club maintains no formal talks are ongoing, and De Laurentiis has insisted Conte’s job is safe “for now”, the internal atmosphere is clearly charged. The loss at Bologna exposed tactical issues, physical fatigue, and a dip in collective belief, elements that, for a coach built on intensity, are deeply problematic.

The decision to allow Conte a short break, while understandable on a human level, carries risk. A pause in leadership flow during a season in which momentum matters may serve only to highlight existing cracks. With Stellini leading training, the club is temporarily in maintenance mode rather than full attack mode.

Morale is strained. When players are frequently injured and the coach is visibly frustrated, the belief that things will “sort themselves” begins to fade. A club accustomed to pushing forward rather than pausing must ask itself whether this is a blip or the start of a slide.

Final Thoughts 

For Napoli, the weeks ahead are critical. The squad has to manage a dual threat: slipping from title contention domestically and losing their edge in European competition. If this current stumble deepens, the cost for a club built to win will be high.

The absence of Conte until November 17 gives the club a moment of pause, but the danger is that this time becomes symbolic rather than restorative. If the squad returns to training without a clear sense of reset, without belief, and still depleted, then this break may act as a magnifier rather than a mitigator of problems.

From a broader perspective for a writer, an analyst, or a fan, this is a moment of truth. Historically, clubs that stumble in November tend to struggle to recover full momentum. For a Napoli side that only recently lifted the Serie A title and were expected to dominate, the fear is real: when you build to win, you cannot afford to drift.

In the coming weeks, the spotlight will shift from the training ground to the results. Napoli’s next outings after the break must deliver urgency, unity, and evidence of realignment. If they do not, the short respite could transform into a long, quiet decline.