Antonio Conte heaped praise on Napoli players after a hard-fought win over Atalanta following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's departure.
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Napoli secured a win following Kvaratskhelia's departureConte praised players for brilliant victoryMan Utd rejected Napoli's first bid for GarnachoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
A day after Napoli star Kvaratskhelia completed his much-hyped move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Italian side picked up a hard-fought 3-2 win over Atalanta in the Serie A. Matteo Politano, Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku were on target as Conte's men came back from behind to secure crucial three points and also avenge their 3-0 loss to Atalanta in November.
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After the match, Napoli boss Conte spoke highly of his players' fighting spirit amid adverse conditions as he said: "I had already said before the match that this team has grown a lot. Don’t forget that just over two months ago, Atalanta put three goals past us at home.
"I think if we’d had even more time to go through the process, we’d have done even better. The team has above all grown in dealing with difficulties, that is what I want to underline."
He added: "We are facing some situations, both in terms of injuries and most recently the transfer market, situations that would kill a bull, but we are still standing. We don't complain, we keep working and I always say that I have a group of players who are eager to work hard. The improvement of each individual player then allows us to improve collectively too."
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Gli Azzurri had identified Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho as a replacement for the Georgian winger, however, earlier this week, it was reported that the Red Devils have rejected Napoli's initial bid worth £40 million ($48.7m).
When asked about Kvaratskhelia's replacement, Conte said: "I leave the decision to the club. I don’t get into the transfer market."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR NAPOLI?
The Serie A leaders will be back in action on January 25 as they take on Juventus in a crucial league encounter.