Napoli midfielder Valon Behrami says the importance of the Europa League to his side cannot be underestimated.
The Azzurri face a difficult task to reach the quarter finals of the competition but the Swiss international believes securing progress would help the club attract new players in the future.
Napoli midfielder Valon Behrami says the importance of the Europa League to his side cannot be underestimated.
The Azzurri face a difficult task to reach the quarter finals of the competition but the Swiss international believes securing progress would help the club attract new players in the future.
“The Europa League helps us to give a good image of Napoli on the European stage,” Behrami said at the Press conference ahead of the Last 16 second leg with Porto.
“We need this competition to help attract players of an international calibre.
“Progressing in this competition would give a strong and important message.
“Tomorrow’s match will tell us a lot. It will tell us whether we can continue to go for this competition or whether we only second place in the league to aim for.
“We must not rush tomorrow, we need to wait for the right moment to strike.
“Porto have some layers missing but they still have great players to come in.
“We need to press more tomorrow than we did in the first leg and be the first to the ball.
“I like our formation because we do the same thing with the national team.
“I like it, we are not going through a great period in terms of how we are playing but regardless we have great quality and that is helping us to create chances.
“I ask the fans to enjoy the game in the best possible way.
“Sometimes we don’t give the right signs but then we score after 80 minutes.
“We just need them to be patient.”
Behrami then commented on teammate Gonzalo Higuain.
“I don’t think we depend on him. It’s clear he’s a formidable player and of a different class.
“Any team depends on players like that who can make the difference.
“But this Napoli is based on playing attacking football.”