Kevin De Bruyne said he is glad that Kontening left «Napoli»

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has openly shared his thoughts on his first season with Napoli and his relationship with former head coach Antonio Conte. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

The experienced player did not hide that the Italian specialist's strict discipline and defensive style of play limited his abilities. On the pitch of Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the stylistic clashes between the creative playmaker and the coach who prioritized defense became clearly visible in a short time.

According to a report from Goal.com, the footballer stated that he was relieved when the coach left the team. De Bruyne joined Napoli as a free agent in the summer of 2025 after completing a ten-year historic stint with Manchester City in England.

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, he explained why he failed to maintain his usual high level of performance during his first season in the Italian championship. The player emphasized that although everything started positively, over time, differences emerged between the coach's views and his football philosophy.

As Kevin put it, Conte does not view football the way he does not view football the way he does, and their approaches to the sport are completely different. The Belgian star was primarily dissatisfied with his position on the field and the team's overly defensive style of play.

Because the former Chelsea and Tottenham coach valued defensive solidity over free creativity on the pitch, De Bruyne participated in only twenty matches across all tournaments this season. Despite minor setbacks from injuries during the campaign, he managed to score five goals and provide four assists.

Nevertheless, the thirty-four-year-old playmaker specifically noted that he was unable to play in his most effective position. Speaking about the team's tactical setup, he explained that playing with five defenders and focusing on just one striker did not suit him.

In his view, the team was too deeply defensive, which negatively affected the effectiveness of the attacking players. After Antonio Conte left the club at the end of the season, De Bruyne welcomed this change positively.

Responding to a question about the coach's departure, he openly said that it was good news for him and that Conte's continued presence was not required. Now, the experienced midfielder hopes to demonstrate his true quality in a new tactical direction.