Luciano Spalletti still has one doubt over his Napoli XI against Milan, but Victor Osimhen shifts the balance of the Champions League quarter-final. ‘All we risk in this game is achieving infinite joy.’
It kicks off on Tuesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
The first leg ended 1-0 for the Rossoneri with a goal from Ismael Bennacer, giving them a slender advantage going into this decider.
As the away goals rule no longer applies, if Napoli win by any one-goal margin and the teams are level on aggregate, it goes to extra time and perhaps even penalties.
“Clearly, having played twice in the last few weeks, you go deeper into the details of what happened,” Spalletti said in his press conference of their analysis.
“We started this season with a reformed squad and new idea of football, so it’s about adjustments now and being ready for things that might happen in a game, such as those counter-attacks where Milan are particularly dangerous. They also use their goalkeeper as a sweeper to push the team forward.
“I will only be happy tomorrow if we get through to the next round, otherwise any great performance will be scant consolation. We need to play the way we did in the first leg, when we emerged with a slight disadvantage, but no real remorse. In general, that performance is what I expect.”
This is the first time Napoli are chasing the result, as they’ve been top of the Serie A table from the start and topped the Champions League table, so will it change their attitude?
“We need to play with quality, intensity, creating those spaces and taking them immediately, passing the ball to create the opportunities. We are a team who need to play football and don’t really have many individuals who change a game, it’s more about working as a team.
“This is the way we play and it means occasionally leaving some gaps between the lines, but that is a risk we have to take. We need everyone to track back and be ready to cover those gaps, create density around the ball. Milan have options, whether it’s a long ball to turn it around, playing out from the back or pinning the opposition back. We must be able to deal with all of it, not just one element.”
The tie could go to extra time and even penalties, so the Partenopei and Rossoneri both need to prepare for that possibility too.
“We tried to prepare for everything. At this stage of the season, a few players are absent – some that happened to us, some that were imposed upon us – and we had to think of alternatives. We practiced penalties, just as I assume everyone did going into these fixtures.
“In my view, the best step up first in a shoot-out, because sometimes the last on the list doesn’t get to take it at all.”
Spalletti was furious about the refereeing in the first leg at San Siro, which saw Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa sent off for two bookable offences, while Kim Min-jae received a yellow card and is also suspended.
UEFA assigned World Cup Final referee Szymon Marciniak to this game in response to the controversy.
“We have gained experience this season, playing many games in the Champions League in some arenas where we proved character and maturity, so I don’t see why that should not be the case now. Sometimes when talking about experience, there is also a reference to the club’s history and in that sense, we did pay a price.”
Juan Jesus said in his press conference that Milan had ‘tried to provoke’ in the first leg and Napoli needed to be smarter in their response. What did he mean?
“When we talk about being smart, it is situations like challenging Brahim Diaz before he starts the run that ended in the goal. I don’t think he was talking about any other things that happened, because again we need to respond on the field with our football,” said the coach.
“Playing at this level of competition is a reward for all the players have achieved, a reward to the city for their love and affection, and we must give all of ourselves.”
Osimhen returns to the squad, having missed both previous defeats against Milan this month, but it’s not clear yet whether Tanguy Ndombele or Eljif Elmas will replace suspended Anguissa.
“We have a squad that allowed us to reach this stage, not just 11 players. Getting the right exercise in training is crucial too, otherwise you forget the movements and get out of practice, so they all contribute there too.
“Ndombele doesn’t have as many minutes in his legs, while Elmas has more attacking characteristics and is eager to work hard for the team. Missing those players, we will at least gain with the return of Osimhen.
“Milan play a modern, attacking football with a high press, they thoroughly deserved to win the Scudetto last season and will come here to take the initiative. Having Osimhen to deal with will cause them worries too.”
On the verge of a Scudetto success and in the Champions League quarter-final for the first time, this Napoli is already in history and Spalletti knows it.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to see. Tomorrow evening is a Champions League game for stars, as we are playing at that level. Being in there is already something important. We want to keep going in this competition, we want to win, so we will play to win.
“There are zero risks around this match. The only risk is achieving infinite joy, because we’ve never reached this level and if we win, we go even further.”
This is the first time we will see Rafael Leao play in the same match as Osimhen, as the Nigerian missed the previous encounters.
“They are two fairly similar players in a way, as they can sprint into open spaces and resolve situations by themselves. They are both tall and physically strong too. Probably both have things they still need to improve when combining with their teammates. It’ll be wonderful to see them both in action.”