Scott McTominay, in a lengthy interview with Il Mattino, discussed the friendlies Antonio Conte's team has played so far in the summer preparations.
"This preseason is really important for us. We're giving it our all every day to build new connections that will be useful throughout the upcoming season."
"It's not always easy to play these friendlies during preparation. But when the season starts, obviously, there will be no excuses. That's precisely why we're building something physically and mentally solid that can help us later."
What was the first thing he said to you when you saw each other again after the summer?
"I'll be honest, it's not so much what he says, but what he does."
Tell us.
"He was immediately clear with us. Winning the Scudetto hasn't changed anything; we need to rediscover and maintain the same attitude and mentality we found last year. Just because we won the league, we can't stop, relax, or rest on our laurels. In every match, every game, the level will be high. And we'll have to live up to it."
A year ago, Conte coined the slogan "Amma fatica.(Hard Work)" This year he responded with "amma fatica'...again." Do you have your own slogan for the season?
"I'll borrow the coach's and make it my own: 'Amma fatica'...always.'"
The Scudetto gift is called De Bruyne: were you surprised by his arrival?
"Absolutely not. Because I was aware of how strong Napoli was, of what ambitions the club had."