Pepe Reina believes Napoli beat Benfica to top their Champions League group because “we stayed true to ourselves.”
The Partenopei secured qualification for the Round of 16 and also won the group for the first time thanks to a 2-1 victory in Lisbon.
Pepe Reina believes Napoli beat Benfica to top their Champions League group because “we stayed true to ourselves.”
The Partenopei secured qualification for the Round of 16 and also won the group for the first time thanks to a 2-1 victory in Lisbon.
“We were already determined to play our style of football in the first half. We knew this was a difficult stadium to play in, I’d been here many times and never won,” the goalkeeper told Mediaset Premium.
“We had success because we stayed true to ourselves and played our style of football, so it was fully deserved.
“You have to see where you are at the end of a group phase. We’re among the top 16 teams in Europe. Naturally we’ve got to climb up the Serie A standings and there are moments when the team doesn’t win, but in my view the performances have still been good.
“Being in the last 16 of the Champions League, any side you face is going to be very difficult. It’s scary to look at the names up there, but we have no fear really. We have respect for everyone.
“I’d like to take on a Spanish side, maybe Sevilla or Real Madrid. Bayern Munich are in my past too.”