Napoli Midfield Stalwart Expects ‘Special Serie A Season’ For Partenopei

Scudetto-winning midfielder Stanislav Lobotka harbors high expectations for a reborn Napoli side under the leadership of Antonio Conte. Away on international duty with Slovakia, the 29-year-old delivered his verdict on Partenopei’s lofty ambitions in the new Serie A season.

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“This can be a special season, but we are only at the beginning. Compared to last year, when we perhaps lacked a bit of hunger after winning the Scudetto, this year is different,” Lobotka said, as reported by TMW.

Lobotka credits Conte for re-establishing Napoli as viable title contenders in Serie A following a disastrous Scudetto-defending campaign last term.

“Conte brought fresh ideas and a different atmosphere, he is pushing us to a superior level both physically and mentally,” he continued. “So far, the results are on our side and this is how we want to continue, the coach can take us to a higher level.”

Lobotka, who turns 30 in December, was part of Luciano Spalletti’s triumphant squad in 2023/24. Like all other Napoli players, his performances significantly dropped last year as the Diego Maradona Stadium outfit finished 10th in Serie A, 41 points adrift of Inter.

However, Conte’s arrival has renewed optimism in Naples. Napoli headed into October’s international break as the early pacesetters despite a 3-0 defeat at Hellas Verona on the new manager’s league debut.

Napoli have since racked up five wins in six top-flight outings, including a 3-1 home triumph against Como last Friday, to move two points clear of reigning holders Inter.