Former Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez believes Napoli have a serious shot of winning the Champions League, explaining why ‘they can do it’.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have been electric since the start of the season, easily flying to both the top spot in Serie A and the Champions League knockout stages.
With 15 games left to play in the league, Napoli have a 15-point lead and their Scudetto credentials are in essentially no doubt, giving them space to focus on the Champions League, where they’ll face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Round of 16.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Benitez explained why his former club Napoli have a genuine chance of winning the Champions League this season.
“When we talk about favourites in the Champions League everyone always says the same names, Real Madrid, Manchester City and so on. For me, Napoli have all the cards in order to impose themselves in Europe as well.
“They have nothing to lose, they play well, they have a large advantage in the league which will not be a great distraction at a physical and mental level. They can go ahead in Europe and the more they do that, the more they will grow.
“And then I know what the euphoria of a city like Naples means in terms of support for the team. So: why not? With this I am not saying that Napoli will win the Champions League, but only that they can do it.”
He also revealed that he told Spalletti that the Partenopei would win the Scudetto this season.
“We met here, in this same hotel in Liverpool. Napoli were coming from a very long positive run, they were unbeaten between Italy and the Champions League, but they were only five points ahead of Atalanta and six ahead of Milan.
“I told Luciano that he would bring the Scudetto back to Napoli. He didn’t want to hear it, also for a matter of superstition, but I felt even then that it would be the right year.”
Napoli’s first challenge in the Champions League knockout stages is against Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the Europa League last season. The German outfit currently sit 6th in the Bundesliga table, winning two of their last five league outings.