admin“Man City Didn’t Win… We Lost – Conte’s Brutally Honest Take on Napoli’s Champions League Defeat”
De Bruyne’s Emotional Etihad Return Cut Short as Napoli Fall to City
Kevin De Bruyne’s long-awaited return to the Etihad ended prematurely, lasting only 25 minutes, as Napoli manager Antonio Conte was forced to substitute the Belgian star following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card in a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City.
Conte later admitted that both he and De Bruyne were left “disappointed” by the difficult decision on a night when Erling Haaland broke another record.
A Hero’s Welcome Ends in Frustration
De Bruyne, making an emotional return to his former home ground, was greeted with a rousing ovation, banners, and chants from City fans. However, the celebratory mood quickly turned sour when Napoli captain Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute after a VAR review.
Conte responded by bringing on Mathias Olivera and, in a tough call, choosing De Bruyne as the player to make way—leaving the midfielder visibly disheartened.
Conte Reflects on the Tough Call
Speaking after the match, Conte acknowledged the emotional weight of his decision.
“It was a painful choice—the only one I could make in that moment,” he said. “It wasn’t just Kevin who was disappointed. I felt it too, taking away his chance to enjoy playing again at his old stadium. But with the red card, my hands were tied.”
Conte also pointed to a lack of tactical discipline in Napoli’s response to going down to 10 men, particularly in the lead-up to Haaland’s opening goal.
“We should’ve stayed compact and waited for counterattacking chances. Instead, we tried pressing high and paid the price. We need to be smarter in those moments,” he added.
Haaland, Doku Lead City to Victory
City capitalised on their numerical advantage after halftime. Erling Haaland opened the scoring, netting his 50th Champions League goal in just 49 appearances—breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record.
Jeremy Doku added a second with a brilliant solo effort, sealing the win. Phil Foden hailed Haaland as “unbelievable,” commending his relentless performance.
City Fans Honour De Bruyne
Despite his early exit, De Bruyne was celebrated throughout the evening by the City faithful.
He completed a lap of honour after the match alongside former teammates, acknowledging the fans who supported him during a glittering decade at the club, where he won 19 major trophies.
Manchester City have already confirmed plans to erect a statue of the Belgian outside the Etihad.
Looking Ahead
City now turn their attention to a crucial Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Napoli, meanwhile, prepare to face Pisa in Serie A, with Conte urging his squad to take lessons from the early part of the match before the sending-off derailed their game plan.
The loss leaves Napoli in a difficult position as they look to bounce back in the Champions League group stage.
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