De Laurentiis: ‘Last season was my fault, Conte a breath of fresh air’

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has opened up about the club’s recent struggles and its path to renewal in a candid interview with Radio Crc. De Laurentiis began by addressing the club’s performance in 2024, dividing it into two distinct periods.

“After 14 years of success, being the only team always in Europe, there was a block. I take it philosophically and positively. I take full responsibility for the errors, I don’t want to accuse anyone else: I am the deus ex machina, I am the pure entrepreneur who invests his own money, and it’s right that I take all the responsibility towards our extraordinary millions of fans,” De Laurentiis stated.

Discussing the club’s resurgence, De Laurentiis praised new manager Antonio Conte: “In Antonio Conte, I found a person who has given me a hand, understanding that I need to restructure. We had many players from the Scudetto-winning team, but we needed to establish a new atmosphere with them and the new players, one of great competition and the desire to compete with everyone.”

The president also expressed gratitude towards Conte’s staff and new sporting director Giovanni Manna: “Finally, I have a young person close to me who is giving his best alongside a rather demanding person like myself.”

De Laurentiis had kind words for captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo: “Our captain has restarted brilliantly and has an extraordinary family. I ask Di Lorenzo to convey my best wishes to the entire locker room and their families. I continue to thank him because he knows how to hold the command stick.”

Addressing the fans, De Laurentiis said, “They are millions in Italy and around the world. To them goes my great thanks. We are strong, they can say what they want, but we Neapolitans have an extra gear.”

On the topic of the stadium, De Laurentiis promised future updates: “You will know everything in due time. When I return, I will hold a press conference solely and exclusively about the stadium.”

The president concluded with a personal note about his Christmas plans: “In Los Angeles, I’ll eat Neapolitan for Christmas. Tomorrow I’m taking struffoli on the plane. I take them everywhere: Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. I am never tired. I have to go to Los Angeles to take back the reins of cinema. Since Covid, various platforms have established themselves, and cinema has suffered. I want to bring many films to the United States.”

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