Overview
- Napoli lost to Benfica in Lisbon in the Champions League, extending a patchy run of form.
- Antonio Conte said playing every three days with the same core group led to fatigue and early technical errors.
- He highlighted that Benfica had two more days to recover after a Friday game compared with Napoli's Sunday match and subsequent travel.
- Injuries in midfield forced Scott McTominay and Eljif Elmas into deeper roles, and Conte said he does not know when Romelu Lukaku will be available.
- Goal.com reported that Jose Mourinho dismissed Conte's explanation as feeling like an excuse, while reporting suggested January signings could be considered to bolster depth.