Atalanta Vs Napoli, Serie A: Conte Says Partenopei Need To Shake Off Kvaratskhelia Departure

Antonio Conte says Napoli will need to quickly adapt to life without the influential Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with a tough test at high-flying Atalanta up next. (More Football News)

Kvaratskhelia confirmed his exit from t൩he club in a goodbye message posted on social media on Thursday, with hi🔯s move to Paris Saint-Germain then confirmed on Friday.

The Georgian spent two and a half years with Napoli, playing a starring role as they clinched their thi🙈rd-ever Scudetto title in 2022-23, scoring 12 goals while🎀 providing 10 assists.

Despite missing three of Napoli's last five league games through injury, K𓆉varatkshelia had registered eight goal involvements for the Partenopei this term (five goals, three assists), helping the team to the top of Serie A.

"I said thaꦕt January was special, it's called the transfer market, so one-two, whoever leaves, whoever comes in..." Conte told a press conference on Friday.

"Due to locker room dynamics, human dyna♈mics, relationships are also created between [the players], it's inevitable that such strong shocks can create small imbalances.

"We will have to be good at maintaining the unity created up until January 1 [and] recreate that alchemy with the new players, to also make up for Kva꧃ra's absence.

"Head down and pedal, whatever happens. Some things we can direct, others not and we don't waste energy... I have to be focused on the team, we are doing something beautiful and I have to protec♕t it, these guys deserve it."

After the clash at third-placed Atalanta, who trail Nꦐapoli by four points, the leaders host J🌺uventus and travel to Roma.

However, Conte was solely focused on the challenge of over꧟coming Gian Piero Gasperini's side.

Atalanta have won their laꦉst two Serie A matches against Napoli (both 3-0). They last achieved three consecutive league successes against them between April 1997 - February 1998.

Napoli, though, have won their last five Serie A matches, iꦅncluding the most recent three without conceding a goal.

"Atalanta won 11 games in a row. They were strong and have remained strong, and they are aware of [it] because they won♋ the Europa League, beating the German champions [Bayer Leverkusen]," Conte said.

"🦹When you win you acquire that awareness that yo💖u can compete with anyone. They also showed it against Real Madrid, even if they lost the match, but it was wide open.

"Having said that, we must focus on ourselves, not on them, we have grown since the last match agaiꦓnst them and we must continue in the process."