The conclusion of a spectacular 2025 saw SSC Napoli cap off a calendar year marked by both extraordinary success—the Scudetto victory and the recent Supercoppa Italiana triumph—and persistent internal struggles. Following a decisive 2-0 victory over Cremonese, orchestrated by a highly impressive brace from Rasmus Hojlund, Napoli coach Antonio Conte offered a characteristically blunt assessment of the club`s status. His message was clear: while individual performances are soaring and trophies are accumulating, the institution itself is not yet prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Italy’s established elite.
Hojlund: The Evolution of a Center Forward
Rasmus Hojlund, the 22-year-old Danish striker, served as the primary highlight of the victory in Cremona. His decisive goals and energetic performance demonstrated a profound transformation since his arrival. Conte, a manager known for his exacting demands on his central strikers, praised the forward’s progress, emphasizing the technical and cognitive aspects of his development.
“Hojlund is a player who is very young and capable of improving a great deal,” explained Conte. “Since he first joined us, he has already progressed to become a dominant player in that role. He is starting to understand the right positions to take, how to defend the ball, and when to create space. In my style of football, the strikers have a very important and special role, and he has huge margin for further improvement.”
The progression is tangible: Hojlund has already surpassed his goal tally from the previous season with Manchester United. This rapid technical assimilation is a testament to both the player`s dedication and Conte`s tactical focus on integration.
The Paradox of Success: Trophies vs. Infrastructure
It seems almost paradoxical: how can a club that has just celebrated a domestic league title and a Super Cup victory not be considered “top level”? Conte’s response cuts straight through the celebratory noise and addresses the deeper, colder reality of long-term football dominance. For him, the successes of 2025 were exceptional, precisely because the club`s foundation remains inadequate compared to its traditional rivals.
Conte maintains that Juventus, Inter, and AC Milan possess a structural advantage that Napoli currently lacks. This disparity is rooted in three key areas: infrastructure, squad depth, and wage bills.
“We are not at the same level,” Conte reiterated. “Our infrastructure isn’t ready. I feel Juventus, Inter, and Milan have the structure, strength in depth, and wage bills that are above all the other clubs. Every time someone other than that group wins a trophy, it means something truly extraordinary has happened.”
In this view, the Scudetto was not the commencement of a new era of dominance, but rather a momentary disruption of the established order—a feat achieved through sheer tactical brilliance and collective will, rather than institutional superiority. Conte’s realism, bordering on pessimism, is arguably a tactical managerial tool designed to manage expectations and keep complacency at bay.
Building the Road: Navigating the Injury Crisis
Conte’s pragmatic outlook is constantly tested by the realities of managing a successful side with limited resources. The Cremonese match served as a stark reminder of Napoli’s current limitations, with a host of key players sidelined, including Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne (both suffering serious injuries), Mathias Olivera, and Alex Meret.
The absence of alternatives forced Conte to reshuffle his team, moving to a flexible 3-4-2-1 formation. This successful adaptation, utilizing the available personnel, highlights the coach`s core philosophy—the spirit of the pioneer.
The coach evoked the historical challenge of Hannibal crossing the Alps to describe their current predicament:
“Hannibal said if there isn’t a road through, then we’ve got to build one,” smiled the coach. “We are building our road with hard work and dedication. We were missing a lot of big players. All I can hope for is that they all come back in 2026, hopefully as soon as possible, although the Lukaku and De Bruyne injuries were very serious, so we cannot rush them and must show patience.”
Conte`s message is definitive: while the players must honor the Scudetto badge with courage and dedication, the institutional effort must be relentless. The challenge for Napoli moving into the new year is not just winning matches, but closing the substantial gap in foundational stability that separates them from the heavyweight triumvirate of Italian football.
