Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski insists fans “do not respect” Maurizio Sarri after he took the Juventus job. “I owe him a great deal, but now want to beat him.”
The coach returns to the Stadio San Paolo for the first time on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski insists fans “do not respect” Maurizio Sarri after he took the Juventus job. “I owe him a great deal, but now want to beat him.”
The coach returns to the Stadio San Paolo for the first time on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Sarri left a lot of good memories here, as he got us playing good football and the fans haven’t forgotten him. However, now he is at Juve and that is why many Napoli fans do not respect him,” Zielinski told Rai Sport.
“We worked together at Empoli too, but we haven’t met in a long time, so I’ll be glad to speak to him.”
Sarri was at home suffering from pneumonia when these teams met for a 4-3 Juventus win in Turin back on August 31.
“He was the coach who brought me here and I owe him a lot, he is a fantastic tactician. We are opponents now, so I want to and I must beat him.
“We know the atmosphere around this match, how much our fans care and we want to put in a great performance.”
Napoli have struggled so far this season, even firing Carlo Ancelotti, although they’ve lost three of their first Serie A games under Gennaro Gattuso.
“I changed position with Gattuso and went back to playing in a three-man midfield, which is where I feel happiest. I am hoping to score a goal soon, I went close against both Lazio and Inter.
“I want to give far more, because I know the season is not going well, but it can still be turned around.”