Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo says they have ‘proved we are a real team to be reckoned with, who belong in the top eight teams’ of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The Partenopei were already leading 2-0 from the first leg away to Eintracht Frankfurt, but finished the job at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona with a 3-0 victory.
Victor Osimhen scored twice, including on Di Lorenzo’s low cross, before Piotr Zielinski earned and converted a penalty.
“It is a wonderful evening, we are enjoying this piece of history to have reached the quarter-finals and then we can think of the next test,” Di Lorenzo told Sky Sport Italia.
The other quarter-finalists are Inter, Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Benfica, Real Madrid and Chelsea, so are there any clubs Di Lorenzo would like to avoid or get in the draw on Friday March 17?
“At this stage of the tournament, the level is so high and we should be proud to be in that company. It is also wonderful to see another two Italian teams in the final eight, that is great for our football. Whoever we are drawn with, we must face them with the same enthusiasm that got us this far.”
Napoli have to be considered one of the dark horses for the Champions League, as they are already the top scorers with 23 goals scored and only six conceded.
“We have proved that we are a real team to be reckoned with, who belong in these top eight teams. We will keep playing our football and see where we end up, the important thing is to give our all and keep enjoying it.”
Napoli have won all but one of their Champions League games this season, a 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool on November 1 when top spot in the group had already been locked down.