Eintracht Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner is clearly excited for the upcoming Champions League clash with Napoli, highlighting how there’ll be ‘a fantastic atmosphere and two teams in great shape’.
The Partenopei are emerging as serious contenders to win Europe’s premier club competition this season as a result of their explosive work under Luciano Spalletti.
Napoli are comfortably top of the Serie A table, 15 points clear of second place Inter, and cruised to the knockout stages of the Champions League with five wins and one loss in the group stage.
Speaking in a press conference, Glasner first spoke highly about Eintracht Frankfurt’s clash with Napoli.
“We have an extraordinary game ahead of us. Our goal is clear: to move forward! Both clubs have very good and stable teams.
“There will be a sold-out crowd, a fantastic atmosphere, two teams in great shape: that’s how it should always be.”
He was asked what he expects from Spalletti’s Napoli.
“Napoli are anti-Italian. They have by far the highest intensity, they play very aggressively without the ball, with high pressing and incredibly intense counter-pressing. We know this and we have prepared for it.
“But Napoli cannot be reduced to just the attacking phase. They have excellent balance and concede few goals. They played an exceptionally good group stage.”
Finally, Glasner discussed what tactics he expects Napoli to employ in the first leg of the Round of 16 clash.
“We know Napoli’s 4-3-3, the Azzurri have shown that they can be compact and dangerous at the same time.
“It is important to act in unison without the ball and at the same time keep the opponent on the defensive.”
Eintracht Frankfurt currently sit 6th in the Bundesliga table, two points behind fourth place Freiburg. The team finished second in a group containing Tottenham, Sporting and Olympique Marseille.