De Bruyne Talks Napoli, Conte and Guardiola: “The Quality Here Is High”

“Napoli has great quality”

Asked what impressed him the most in these early days, De Bruyne was clear: “The quality is very high. I already knew Napoli had great players. They were champions just a season ago, so it’s normal for the level to be high. We’re working hard and now it’s about understanding the team, the players, and the coaches. That’ll come in the next few weeks.”

Conte vs Guardiola: the key difference

De Bruyne didn’t shy away from comparisons between his new manager and the one he spent most of his career with: “Probably Pep is a bit more offensive, while Conte leans more defensive. But it’s too early to judge. I’ve been working with Conte for only 10 days, while I worked with Pep for 9 years, I know him very well. Here, we’ll have slightly different tactics, which is normal.”

Feeling the passion of the fans

When asked about the passionate Napoli supporters, De Bruyne said: “You have to accept it, even if it’s not always easy. The fans push you to give more. But at this level, every player must take responsibility and prepare to give their best. That’s what we’re doing, we’re working really hard, and that’s what matters to me most.”

Next step: Catanzaro

After a narrow preseason loss to Arezzo, Napoli face Catanzaro next. “We know we need to do better,” De Bruyne added. “But honestly, I’m not too worried. The first friendly, we could’ve won but didn’t score. Now, the priority is learning and getting to know the team. We want to win every game, but what matters most now is the work we’re putting in.”