Luciano Spalletti suggested that Eintracht Frankfurt were ‘as strong as’ Napoli ahead of their Champions League clash and noted how the increase in pressure limits his team.
The Partenopei have been one of the most in-form teams in Europe this season, looking electric as they charge to their first Scudetto in over three decades. Spalletti’s side have maintained this level in the Champions League, easily cruising to the knock-out stages after strong wins over Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.
Speaking at CONI during the award ceremony dedicated to Andrea Fortunato, a former Genoa and Juventus left back who sadly passed away aged 24 from leukaemia, Spalletti first commented on the event.
“We have to be responsible and spread the importance of the blood passport to current and future generations. It’s no longer tolerable that people lose their lives playing this sport.”
He touched on how he manages the pressures of this season.
“I don’t know if I can actually handle it, it’s an important love that you receive, an important hug. We have an obligation to return all the love for the sport that we receive.
“It takes calm, a lot of calm, because we still have work to do and a number of games that don’t allow us to have distractions.
“I’m glad the team is so attentive and willing to play matches one at a time, as they are doing.”
The Napoli coach commented on his team always look to raise the bar.
“The issue is that if we don’t give our best, we can’t be a strong team, we don’t recognise the total quality our team has. If we go in a bit cocky and convinced that something will be given to us for free, that mistake will be paid dearly.
“We need to be immersed in the challenge, to recognise it truly and clearly through its difficulties. We go onto the pitch willing to destroy ourselves for a result.
“Emblematic of this a little is the second goal, where Kim put his head out for a ball when a Cremonese player was challenging for it, he went there to put his face, his head.”
Spalletti looked ahead to Napoli’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Eintracht are as strong as us, we’ve already watched and studied them, it’ll be a very difficult challenge.
“Because then, as we were saying before, from here on it will be more difficult to be so light and creative, so good at creating a spectacle that can be shared by everyone, precisely because of the pressure that increases with the games played.”
He was asked if this was his strongest ever team and most exciting point in his career.
“I’ve had the most exhilarating career since I started with the youngsters, for me it’s always a thrill to be a coach and to go into the locker room and smell the grass and be part of those moments there….
“I’m a very lucky guy, I have coached great players and great teams and I have always given it my all. I have no regrets.
“Anything can happen, but I will live well because I have dedicated a life to this sport and I will continue to do so. When you do that, it becomes easier to accept future events.”
He spoke about how Napoli try to maintain the spirit of Diego Maradona.
“We have it there, in the locker room there is that statue of Maradona that many people go to touch.
“I also go out on the pitch because we want to bring him into the quality of our tea, he was someone who won through play, through quality, through all those things that the fans like.
“We want to try to be as much like him as possible and we will always carry him because of the lessons he taught us.”
Finally, Spalletti spoke highly about star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and which player he’s similar to.
“He is really one who has sensitivity in dribbling, in caressing the ball, in bringing those feints that are so difficult to defend against.
“Mo Salah is one of those guys who has this quality in the tight spaces and in finishing so precisely, he doesn’t feel the pressure. You can see that he is a quiet boy, he will have a great future.”