Napoli head coach Antonio Conte didn’t mince words after Kevin De Bruyne expressed visible frustration following his substitution in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to AC Milan at the San Siro.
The Belgian midfielder’s displeasure came as the reigning Serie A champions fell to their first league loss of the season.
A Dramatic San Siro Showdown
AC Milan jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first half, with Alexis Saelemaekers and Christian Pulisic finding the net.
Napoli responded in the second half after Pervis Estupinan was sent off for a last-ditch foul on Giovanni di Lorenzo.
De Bruyne calmly converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-1, but Napoli were still chasing an equaliser when Conte made a triple substitution.
De Bruyne was replaced by Eljif Elmas in the 72nd minute, with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund also making way for David Neres and Lorenzo Lucca.
As he walked off the pitch, the Belgian appeared to gesture towards Conte, clearly unhappy with the decision.
Conte’s Firm Response
In the post-match press conference, Conte addressed De Bruyne’s reaction with characteristic bluntness.
“I hope De Bruyne was upset about the substitution because of the result, because otherwise he’s got the wrong guy,” Conte said, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“I tried to bring in fresh players for one-on-one situations, given that Milan were closing down a lot.
There’s not much to say; I think the substitutions were the right ones.”
De Bruyne’s Substitution History at Napoli
The 34-year-old has now been substituted in four of his six Napoli appearances since joining on a free transfer over the summer.
His most notable substitution came during his Champions League return to Manchester City, where he was withdrawn in the 26th minute after Napoli were reduced to ten men.
Conte showed sympathy at the time, noting how the red card forced tactical changes.
A Star Signing With High Expectations
De Bruyne’s summer arrival was one of Napoli’s marquee moves as they aim to build on last season’s Serie A triumph and make an impact in the Champions League.
Opting to stay in Europe rather than move to the US or Saudi Arabia, the midfielder clearly wants to compete at the highest level despite leaving a trophy-laden decade at Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles and a Champions League.
A History of Expressing Frustration
The midfielder hasn’t hidden his feelings when substituted before.
During a 1-1 draw at Anfield in 2024, De Bruyne had a heated discussion with Pep Guardiola after being taken off, showing he’s unafraid to communicate his frustrations when decisions don’t go his way.
Napoli Look to Bounce Back
Sunday’s defeat leaves Napoli second in Serie A on goal difference, with AC Milan topping the table.
Conte’s squad will be eager to respond when they host Sporting Lisbon in their second Champions League group-stage match on Wednesday, aiming to maintain momentum on Europe’s biggest stage.