Napoli Coach Carlo Ancelotti feels tomorrow’s Genoa game will be “a great test of maturity” for his side.
The Partenopei travel to Marassi tomorrow night with the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Juventus, at least until they face Milan on Sunday.
“We’re going to play in a difficult environment against a team that will be very motivated, given they’re coming off two losses,” Ancelotti warned in his pre-match Press conference.
Napoli Coach Carlo Ancelotti feels tomorrow’s Genoa game will be “a great test of maturity” for his side.
The Partenopei travel to Marassi tomorrow night with the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Juventus, at least until they face Milan on Sunday.
“We’re going to play in a difficult environment against a team that will be very motivated, given they’re coming off two losses,” Ancelotti warned in his pre-match Press conference.
“I think it’ll be a very intense and physical game. The important thing is that all the players always have the will to play it.
“We’ve done well up to now, but we can do better and that’s what we’re trying to do. There are pitfalls to overcome every day, and tomorrow is another dangerous one.
“We’re going to a stadium where we have bad memories, the opposition are struggling and will therefore be motivated.
“The home fans will be 100 per cent behind their players, and tomorrow will be a great test of maturity.
“It’s easy to find the right motivation against Paris Saint-Germain, but it’s more difficult against Genoa, above all because of how much that match took out of us physically and mentally. Maturity will allow us to be at 100 per cent.
“Could Arkadiusz Milik start? It’ll be an intense and physical game, and we’ll need physicality to prevail. That’s an aspect I’ll consider.
“Dries Mertens had a shoulder problem, but he’s recovered. He’s fine. It’s important that everyone wants to play every match. There will be a few changes, but six would be too many.”
Ancelotti was then asked if he expects a ‘gift’ from Milan on Sunday.
“The only gift I expect is a beautiful match. We need to think about our own match.”
Carletto has been insulted by Juve fans in the past, so what did he think of Jose Mourinho cupping his ear to them?
“Sorry? I didn’t hear you…” Ancelotti replied, cupping his ear to the journalists.
“All of us who go down to the pitch have a responsibility and we need to understand that. That said, you don’t get any pleasure from being insulted for 90 minutes.
“It was an understandable reaction; it wasn’t vulgar, it was sarcastic. That can happen after 90 minutes of insults.
“I’m not just referring to Juventus, by the way, in Italy there’s a general culture of insults. It happens in Naples and Milan too.”