Furious Antonio Conte Slams Napoli’s Transfer ‘Mistakes’ After Kevin De Bruyne and Co Are Embarrassed By PSV

Antonio Conte has launched a scathing attack on Napoli's summer transfer strategy, branding it a "mistake" following a disastrous 6-2 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

The Italian champions were dismantled in the Netherlands, a result that Conte fears could signal a deeper crisis for the club. The loss comes just days after a 1-0 Serie A defeat to Torino, compounding concerns over the team's recent form.

Despite winning the league title last season, Conte believes the squad was destabilized by an excessive number of new arrivals, including high-profile signings Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City and Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United.

"Last year, we won an extraordinary and incredible championship, where everyone pushed their limits with great unity," Conte stated in a fiery post-match press conference. "This year, however, between playing so many games and bringing in so many players... in my opinion, nine new players were too many. We weren't balanced."

The manager warned that the team must rediscover its collective spirit and humility.

"We need to humble ourselves, I've been telling you this for a while," Conte added. "Both old and new players need to step up their game. We all need to step up... The good of the individual is useless. The good of the team is what counts."

A brace from Scott McTominay was the only bright spot for Napoli at the Philips Stadium. The Scottish midfielder opened the scoring before PSV seized control with two quick goals before halftime.

The second half saw Napoli collapse, with Dennis Man scoring twice for the hosts. The visitors' task was made even harder when Lorenzo Lucca received a red card in the 76th minute.

McTominay scored a late consolation goal in the 86th minute, but PSV responded immediately with two more goals from Ricardo Pepi and Couhaib Driouech to complete the rout.

While Hojlund missed the match with an injury, De Bruyne's performance drew heavy criticism from the Italian media. Corriere dello Sport awarded the Belgian a dismal 4.5/10 rating, noting: "He is seen very little, touches the ball very little and disappears when needed. With his experience, he should be carrying the team on his shoulders."

In contrast, the same paper described McTominay as Napoli's "light in the darkness."

Adding to the sense of crisis, captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo admitted the team feels vulnerable.