Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti believes the roar from the Maradona Stadium will reach all the way to Anfield when they face Liverpool in the Champions League. The two sides meet this evening and speaking ahead of the match, Spalletti expressed his admiration at leading the Partenopei into this seasons campaign and what to expect in the season ahead:
I am very excited to be able to lead Napoli in the Champions League. This is like a football funfair, the players are motivated, everyone’s eyes sparkle and this is a prize to the great championship played last year.
This is the competition that footballers dream of playing since they were children. But it is also a competition of the highest technical level where each ball can become the decisive ball that resolves the match.
We know the strength that Maradona can give us. I am sure that tomorrow the Champions scream of our stadium will reach Anfield. The enthusiasm must prevail over the tension and our fans know how to give us a lot of life.
Liverpool play with constant changes of field and fanning from right to left, it’s a different football than what we are used to in Italy, they use deep throws and they don’t make you breathe with continuous pressing and these balls over the line.
Obviously, apart from the tactical phase, they also have great individualities and constantly exploit the one-on-one. It will take big lungs and a lot of head to not to be deprived of oxygen and to be able to propose our game.
We will have to be able to accept that in some moments they could be superior to us, but without ever giving up our possibilities to impose ourselves. Being beautiful is not essential, we must be effective and concrete. We don’t go out on the pitch to get compliments but to be up to it.
But we also have champions in the team, I am convinced that tomorrow evening my men will play a great match. I repeat that this group will be able to make Maradona fall in love again this season.
I am honoured to sit next to Klopp’s bench. He is a unique character and a coach who has a philosophy that distinguishes him worldwide. I will try to read the indications he will give to the team carefully. He is a coach from whom there is always something to learn.”
