Rudi Garcia has been criticised for having a Napoli side that is ‘nothing like last season,’ so uses that to his advantage when hoping to change the record against Milan.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT.
“We know that we are playing at home against a direct rival for position and we really want to win this,” said Garcia in his press conference.
“We’re on an interesting run of results and the players know the only way to improve is our position is with two or three victories in a row.”
These teams famously clashed last season both in Serie A and the Champions League quarter-finals, with the Rossoneri the team to cause eventual Scudetto winners Napoli the most problems, including a thumping 4-0 result at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
However, Garcia used this to finally turn the criticism of how he has inherited the reins from Luciano Spalletti into a positive.
“Ironically, so many people say that this Napoli is nothing like last season… so perhaps they can expect a different game with Milan too.
“Look, the important thing is tomorrow. The past is the past. We won our last two games and that was the most crucial aspect, the performances will improve.”
There is history between Garcia and Pioli too, as they famously clashed after a Derby della Capitale when one was on the Roma bench and the other at Lazio.
“It was a different time, with different teams. Pioli is a very good coach.”
Last season, Rafael Leao was particularly devastating against Napoli, so does Garcia have a plan to stop the Portuguese talent?
“Leao is an excellent player, but he is not alone, we need a plan to stop Christian Pulisic and one to stop Olivier Giroud too. We must think about Milan as a whole.
“Besides, if Milan are strong on the left wing, Napoli are strong on the right and left, so we must focus on our own strengths.”
Victor Osimhen is still out injured, so either Giovanni Simeone or Giacomo Raspadori will start upfront, while Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa is back but not fully fit.
“Anguissa cannot play 90 minutes, so if he does start, then he will have to come off. Jens Cajuste was one of the best against Verona, he was not with Union Berlin, but that doesn’t mean he has lost any of my faith in him.”