Young Boys’ Uli Forte and midfielder Raphael Nuzzolo are eagerly awaiting facing Napoli in the Europa League tomorrow, but aren’t scared of them.
Young Boys’ Uli Forte and midfielder Raphael Nuzzolo are eagerly awaiting facing Napoli in the Europa League tomorrow, but aren’t scared of them.
Coach Forte was born in Switzerland from parents originally from Salerno, but whilst Salernitana are one of Napoli’s fiercest rivals, Forte says he has always cheered for the Azzurri.
“A lot of our players and staff, me included, are Italian or have Italian roots from the south of the country. It's a very special game for us,” Forte has told the Press ahead of Young Boys’ clash with the Partenopei tomorrow.
“I have always been a big Napoli fan. I still remember when I was 10 years old and Diego Maradona was unveiled at Stadio San Paolo in front of 70,000 fans.
“In any case, I want to beat them, and we will do all we can to achieve that.
“We want to show some entertaining football and I am sure we can surprise [Napoli]. We don’t have anything to lose and we’ll play without any pressure.
“I have many friends in Naples who follow Napoli night and day and they told me that Benitez might change up to seven players for tomorrow’s game.”
Nuzzolo, meanwhile, was born and raised in Switzerland from Italian parents too and he is just as eager to face the team he loves most in the Peninsula.
“Every year when I'm on holiday in Italy I buy a Napoli shirt. They have top-class players and I particularly like Hamsik, Higuain and Callejon.
“I also like Mertens, who is skilful and quick like me, and can come in from the left and shoot with his right foot.”
Young Boys will be backed by 22,000 supporters, who have already secured their place at Stade de Suisse for tomorrow’s clash.
But Nuzzolo is aware that football in Naples is completely on another planet.
“The fans of both teams are great, but Naples is a city that lives for football
“I remember when Ezequiel Lavezzi went shopping in Naples, the entire city just stood still.”
Nuzzolo said that his team will draw inspiration from their victory against Udinese in the Europa League two seasons ago.
“We won both games against them and that was special for all the players who had Italian parents – we loved that and we’d like to do it again.”