Napoli head coach Antonio Conte defended the squad after a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea ended their Champions League campaign, stressing pride in the performance despite elimination. Chelsea advanced into the top eight with Joao Pedro’s second-half brace, while Italian champions Napoli finished 30th in the league phase, missing the play-offs by a single point.
Conte’s side had led at half-time yet left Stamford Bridge beaten, a rare setback in such circumstances for Napoli in Europe. Conte underlined the impact of numerous absences, arguing the group delivered close to its maximum in difficult conditions against a club-level world champion.
Conte highlighted how severely injuries affected his selection and felt the display matched Chelsea for long spells.
"We feel great pride and satisfaction, because despite missing more than half the squad, we played, if not on the same level, then even better than Chelsea, and deserved a lot more," Conte told Sky Sport Italia, as reported by Football Italia.
Conte emphasised Napoli’s intensity without the ball and constant attacking intent. "I am so proud of our lads, because we pressed them, created chances, fought them for every ball. It’s a pity, we deserved to at least get into the play-offs. " Those comments reflected Conte’s view that the performance did not mirror the final result.
The 3-2 scoreline ensured Chelsea finished inside the top eight and progressed directly to the last 16. Napoli’s 30th-place finish left the Serie A holders outside the crucial 24 positions. The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League league phase table highlighted which clubs advanced automatically and which dropped into the play-offs for knockout qualification.
The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League league phase comes to an end. Here is the final table showing the teams that finished in the top eight (going straight into the last 16) and teams finishing 9th-24th, who enter the play-offs. pic.twitter.com/OAiqbemlB2Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 28, 2026
Napoli vs Chelsea Champions League: Fine margins in attack and defence
Conte pointed to Chelsea’s greater sharpness close to goal as the decisive factor. Their opponents created fewer chances yet punished Napoli whenever space appeared in advanced areas. Napoli, by contrast, reached promising positions and sent crosses into the area, but failed to convert enough of those situations into clear scoring opportunities.
Conte stressed that the overall display still pleased the staff, especially against elite opposition. The coach felt Napoli attacked bravely, accepted one-on-one duels and left gaps behind, yet maintained a strong structure. Conte believed the team showed personality on the ball and produced spells of attractive football, even while chasing the game in the closing stages.
Napoli vs Chelsea Champions League: Historical context and Copenhagen regret
The loss carried extra weight due to Napoli’s strong historical record when leading at half-time in the Champions League. This was only the second such defeat, following a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in March 2017. Between those matches, Napoli had recorded 19 wins and five draws in similar situations, underlining how uncommon Wednesday’s outcome was.
Conte suggested the real damage to their campaign had come earlier in the schedule rather than against Chelsea. Napoli had drawn 1-1 away to FC Copenhagen, a result Conte believed changed their margin for error. The draw left Napoli needing a positive outcome against Chelsea, rather than approaching the match with qualification already secured.
Conte did not hide frustration about that previous result. "I told the lads that the regret was in Copenhagen, where we simply couldn’t let that win slip through our fingers. It forced us to be in this situation against a top club. Don’t forget Chelsea won the Club World Cup, they have extraordinary players on the field, the bench and even left in the stands. "
Napoli vs Chelsea Champions League: Domestic implications and next targets
With European hopes over for this season, Napoli must now refocus on Serie A. The reigning champions trail Inter by nine points after a 3-0 defeat to Juventus last weekend, adding pressure to the league campaign. Conte will need to balance recovery for injured players with the demands of chasing Inter at the top of the table.
Conte’s comments underlined a mix of disappointment and belief within the squad. Napoli exited the Champions League after a narrow defeat to Chelsea and a costly draw with FC Copenhagen, yet Conte praised the group’s attitude, intensity and willingness to attack. The focus now shifts to regaining domestic consistency while building on the resilience shown in Europe.
