Conte promises proactive Juve

Juventus boss Antonio Conte insists his side won’t be playing for a draw at Napoli on Friday night.

There is a suggestion that the Old Lady could be looking to primarily defend their six-point advantage at the top of the table when the two teams meet at the Stadio San Paolo.

Conte, however, has told reporters on Thursday that his side only play with one thing on their mind.

“Our style of play doesn’t change whether we play at home or away,” he stated. “We always look to play proactive football.

“Sometimes that happens, other times our opponents don’t allow us to. But, at the San Paolo, we’ll look to play with our ideas and organisation.”

The game is being billed as a potential title decider, but the tactician has underlined that the season is still long.

“It’s one of the many games that we’ll have to get over to reach the finish line. The championship will not end tomorrow.

“More important games will follow against Milan, Inter, Lazio…

“There is certainly a lot of media attention, but that is what happens when two important sides meet.”

Conte also has total respect for the Azzurri, a squad he believes has the potential to take away their League crown.

“We went into last season off the back of two seventh placed finishes. Napoli, meanwhile, were built for a Champions League campaign. Now, with the Scudetto shield on our shirts, the roles have been reversed.

“Napoli, though, strengthened in the summer and in January – so they can target the title. They prematurely exited the Coppa and the Europa League, but they can get the only objective left for them.”

Conte again took the opportunity to defend Sebastian Giovinco, the club’s top scorer this term who continues to have his critics.

“Giovinco was listed in the elections and I voted for him,” Conte smiled. “Sebastian has to be calm and he’s very mature. He knows how to cope with the pressure and that is not easy.”

Will Giorgio Chiellini start after recovering from injury? “Giorgio is well. He’s recovered, but I want to speak to him first before making a decision. The important thing is that he has recovered from injury.

“I’d like to wish Simone Pepe good luck too after surgery. We’re waiting for him.”

The former midfielder also expressed his disappointment with regard to the amount of media attention there has been this week about the choice of tomorrow’s referee.

“It’s not nice to talk about referees. It’s a shame that people always find something to stir up controversy.

“We have faith in the referees, we know that they can make mistakes and you can get angry with them as we have in the past. I have and paid for it, but it is ugly to start insinuating things.”

Daniele Orsato has been given the game.