Giovanni Di Lorenzo is glad Kvicha Kvaratskhelia provided a moment of ‘quality’ to break down Union Berlin in the Champions League.
It was far from a scintillating performance in Berlin, but they got the job done thanks to Kvaratskhelia running to the by-line and pulling back for Giacomo Raspadori to fire in from eight yards.
That result puts the Partenopei clear in second place in the Champions League group on six points, as Real Madrid have nine and SC Braga three.
Union Berlin have lost nine competitive games in a row, including all three of their European outings.
“It was a difficult game, there were moments where we struggled, but I feel it was a deserved victory against a well-organised and very physical side,” Di Lorenzo told Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset.
“Playing away from home makes the win even more important, we will have the return fixture and that too will be decisive for qualification. We are in a good position to qualify to the next round.”
Napoli were struggling to create any real chances until that Kvaratskhelia run to the by-line.
“In games like this, you need the moments from those players with the most quality and I am pleased to have these teammates who can change a game at any moment.”
While Napoli were a surprise package last term, shooting to the Scudetto and the Champions League quarter-finals, this time around the attitude of the opponents appears to have changed.
“Yes, that makes sense. Last season nobody expected us to do so well in Serie A or the Champions League. The opponents study us more now and are better prepared.
“It was not easy in this fiery atmosphere, but we had the right attitude and took home the points.”
This game was played at the Olympiastadion, which is where Italy won the 2006 World Cup Final beating France on penalties.
During the pitch inspection yesterday, Di Lorenzo and goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini jokingly recreated the Zinedine Zidane headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
“We were in the same spot where that incident happened, so we remembered it. Just a bit of fun.”