Antonio Conte Responds to Kevin De Bruyne’s Frustration After Substitution

Antonio Conte issued a firm statement regarding Kevin De Bruyne’s reaction following his substitution during Napoli’s 2-1 defeat to AC Milan. The Belgian midfielder, who joined Napoli this summer after a successful stint at Manchester City, was visibly frustrated as he exited the pitch at the San Siro.

The match saw Milan take an early lead with Alexis Saelemaekers and Christian Pulisic scoring in the first half. A red card for Pervis Estupinan gave Napoli a fighting chance, with De Bruyne converting a penalty in the 60th minute to bring his team back into the game. However, he was then replaced in the 72nd minute as part of Conte’s tactical substitutions aimed at pushing for an equalizer. De Bruyne appeared to gesture toward Conte as he left the field, showing his disappointment.

Conte responded to the incident in his post-match press conference, emphasizing that if De Bruyne was upset about his substitution, it should be because of the team’s performance, not the decision itself. He explained that he made changes to introduce fresh players to counter Milan’s pressing, including substituting Rasmus Hojlund with Lorenzo Lucca. Conte defended his choices, stating, “The substitutions were correct.”

This season, De Bruyne has been substituted in four of his six appearances for Napoli, including a notable exit in the Champions League during his return to Manchester City, where he was replaced early after Napoli was reduced to 10 men. Conte expressed sympathy in that earlier instance, acknowledging the frustration but emphasizing the importance of tactical adjustments in such situations.

Having left City after a trophy-laden career—including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory—De Bruyne’s move to Napoli was seen as a chance to build on his legacy in Italy and European competitions. Despite some past frustrations about being substituted, he remains a key figure for Napoli, though his reactions continue to draw attention.

Match Impact

Napoli’s first league defeat of the season leaves them second in Serie A on goal difference, with AC Milan moving to the top after their victory. Napoli will look to bounce back in their upcoming Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon.