Antonio Conte has reached out to Kevin De Bruyne, seeking his insights ahead of Napoli's Champions League clash against Manchester City. The match marks De Bruyne's return to the Etihad Stadium, just months after leaving the club where he spent a decade, achieving legendary status.
Conte, known for his meticulous preparation, is leaving no stone unturned as his team prepares to face the 2023 Champions League winners. He acknowledged Manchester City as the "teachers" and his Napoli side as "students" in this upcoming encounter. Conte hopes De Bruyne's knowledge will give Napoli an edge.
De Bruyne's departure from Manchester City followed a trophy-laden decade where he became a fan favorite. During his time there, he made 422 appearances, scored 108 goals, and provided 177 assists. His farewell was emotional, with the player promising fans that he would return.
Since joining Napoli, De Bruyne has quickly adapted, scoring two goals in his first three appearances and contributing to Napoli's perfect start to their Serie A title defense. Conte has praised De Bruyne's genius and is trying to carve out a new role for him within the team. This tactical shift sees De Bruyne and Scott McTominay alternating between central and wider positions, forming a potentially lethal duo. Conte aims to maximize De Bruyne's abilities while managing his workload effectively.
Despite De Bruyne's familiarity and early success with Napoli, Conte maintains that Manchester City are the favorites for their upcoming match. The post-De Bruyne era at City has begun, with Pep Guardiola looking for new ways to generate chances and goals for Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne's return to Manchester is highly anticipated, and he is expected to receive a hero's welcome. A statue is planned to honor him at the Etihad Stadium. While De Bruyne will be excited to play, Conte hopes he will quickly remember his allegiance to Napoli once the game begins. Conte is aware of the challenge his team faces against a strong Manchester City side. He emphasizes the need for humility and a desire to learn from the experience.
