Maurizio Sarri said Napoli “proved we belong in the Champions League” after beating Benfica 4-2 and the atmosphere “remains on your soul like a tattoo.”
Marek Hamsik, Arek Milik and a Dries Mertens brace had the Partenopei leading 4-0 before a couple of late defensive slip-ups sealed the final scoreline at 4-2.
Only four teams have a 100 per cent record in the tournament so far this season: Napoli, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Leicester City.
Maurizio Sarri said Napoli “proved we belong in the Champions League” after beating Benfica 4-2 and the atmosphere “remains on your soul like a tattoo.”
Marek Hamsik, Arek Milik and a Dries Mertens brace had the Partenopei leading 4-0 before a couple of late defensive slip-ups sealed the final scoreline at 4-2.
Only four teams have a 100 per cent record in the tournament so far this season: Napoli, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Leicester City.
“They hadn’t lost on their travels for months, so we proved that we belong in this tournament. Putting a top level team like that in such trouble is an achievement,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“I have a slightly bitter taste in my mouth at the two goals we conceded at the end, because we were in total control and gifted them with our mistakes.
“At least it’s a good less and I hope the lads realised at this level they absolutely cannot let go for a second.
“The best moment of the game, for me, was that when Mertens scored, Lorenzo Insigne ran 50 metres to get there and hug him. It was a wonderful signal.”
Nikola Maksimovic made his debut for the Partenopei, replacing injured Raul Albiol after just 11 minutes.
“Maksimovic was supposed to make his debut against Atalanta this weekend, so he anticipated it by three days, but I think he proved we were right to want him here at all costs.”
Napoli are unbeaten in Serie A and won both their Champions League games. Does this game represent their true European consolidation?
“I think the team proved it belongs in this tournament. In terms of performance, we belong, but in terms of mentality we need to grow. This was a game that at 4-0 we needed to put on ice, but we got distracted.
“If this had been a knockout tie, we’d have put ourselves into a fine old mess. You could tell the irritation at the end that rather marred the satisfaction.”
Despite the scoreline, Benfica had the first opportunity to score early doors.
“We had a few problems pressing them high in the first 15 minutes. Slowly we moved further up and consistently pressed them higher and higher until for 20 minutes Benfica were struggling to get out of their own half. That, for me, was tactically the best period of the game and we did precisely what we had prepared.
“The problem was not the defence. It was because we lost the ball in banal fashion in midfield. At that moment, we were totally in control and it was just complacency. A more rugged midfield is useful if we are under huge pressure, but the two goals we conceded tonight were simply because we got distracted.
“I hope that from tomorrow the players realise they have to deal with the day to day reality. There is the risk of having a less aggressive style in the next game and we absolutely cannot afford that, so I hope the team is mature enough to realise that.”
This was Sarri’s first Champions League home game of his career, so how did he feel?
“It felt like my absolute debut, as the atmosphere was so special and swept me up far more than the actual debut at Dynamo Kiev.
“The stadium gave us a huge hand from long before kick-off, let alone during it, and standing in the tunnel of the San Paolo beforehand was a wonderful sensation.
“When the crowd sings along with the theme song, it’s something that touches your soul and remains there, like a tattoo.”