Luciano Spalletti was feeling positive ahead of Napoli’s Champions League match against Liverpool, although he underlined the dangers of the Premier League giants.
The Partenopei have already qualified for the Round of 16 of Europe’s premier club competition, winning all five of their previous group stage outings. Napoli secured a confident 4-1 win over Liverpool at home last month, a result they’ll be hoping to replicate at Anfield. Spalletti’s side remain undefeated after 17 matches across Serie A and the Champions League.
Speaking in a press conference, Spalletti first commented on the comparisons between Mohamed Salah and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“They are two footballers who in different ways manage to make these brilliant plays, because that’s what we’re talking about. You can play any simple ball on them and they manage to turn it into an opportunity for the team.
“They have this ease to point and get past the opponent, to caress the ball as they go 2000 kilometres an hour and make a turnaround.
“Both of them are very convinced of their potential, in being so simple, such good guys, so willing to help everyone all the time. Indeed they are two that can put their own spin on it.”
He reacted to the compliments made by Jurgen Klopp in his pre-match press conference.
“I think I read that he also said that they don’t think about winning 4-0…. I think he said it seriously. If he said it seriously that he can’t win 4-0 if he wants we talk about it! Excessive compliments sometimes serve to put you up there and then you can hear the thud.
“On the other hand, when there is criticism, if it is done in a correct manner you always find the cues to improve and see if the criticism is correct or not. If, on the other hand, he said it a little differently….
“Meanwhile he has reached the last two Champions League finals, so he is better than everyone, he and his team. Then he’ll realise, when he coaches Napoli, that ‘cca nisciuno è fess (nobody here is stupid, ed.).”
The Italian coach commented on Liverpool’s recent form on the pitch.
“Liverpool are a very healthy team, let’s not be fooled by the result of the last game, which I saw well, as well as the previous ones. I find them the Liverpool of always.
“Then it is clear that if they miss ten goals in front of the goalkeeper and by chance all the moments go wrong, as in their last game, a result can be questioned.
“I will allow my players and will be available for them to miss every ball, but I will not be permissive about not playing the balls that come between their feet. We must play a fair, calm game, from the point of view of intentions.
“There will be times when we will have to be good at withstanding their quality and their speed in playing football. That fact of going from one side to the other also leads you to swerve.
“Whenever the ball is regained, I want to see the same intentions, because that will be our possible ticket out of this match in the right way.”
Spalletti discussed the economic gulf between Italian clubs and Premier League sides.
“If you can spend more money it’s clear that it’s easier. But if you are organised well there are more chances to bring results home, like Napoli did this year by signing players who can make a difference and can become top players, like the highest paid ones.
“We are in a position to grow further, but quality players were signed at the beginning by the club.”
He highlighted the team’s desire to win and secure a first place finish in the group.
“We accept compliments, if sincere, but compliments don’t make results and the league table. We know that tomorrow night will be tough. We’ll have to be our usual selves, the ones from the first leg, and it’s almost impossible to repeat that game.
“Arriving first or second changes everything, it seems superfluous to answer whether we want to win or not. We came here with the healthiest possible intentions. Then there is a stage like this, against those players there, and we will have to prove that we are up to it.”
Finally, Spalletti explained why he rarely used a 4-3-3 formation last season.
“You probably have to talk about it with those who wanted the 4-2-3-1. And then we had a similar squad to this year’s in terms of the value of the players.
“Also this season we will play 4-2-3-1 in certain situations, it will depend on the opponent, the condition, the moment in the game.
“There is no one solution for all situations, there are more than one, so you have to test them all and put them into practice.”
I love this coach