"It is a prize to be there": Napoli's Spalletti eager to visit Liverpool and Klopp
The Italian manager spoke about his team's Champions League debut and his emotions before the match
Napoli will have one of the most difficult Champions League group stages and manager Luciano Spalletti knows it, but he still won't walk into the pitch thinking about defeat. The Italian manager talked with the press before his match against Liverpool and he was clear, the Partenopei are out there to win.
"There is a different music in the Champions League, everyone's eyes shine. This is an prize for the great championship we did last year, everyone wants to be here", explained Spalletti, "But in the Champions League a dead ball can come alive in an instant and decide the game. This is the difference with the Serie A".
The Italian manager knows this and despite understanding that it will be a special ocassion, he's on the competition to do his best: "Liverpool are one of the strongest teams in the Champions League, we will do our best to be up to it: we will not go out on the pitch to be praised for the effort, but to try to win the game".
However, Spalletti still was unable to forgo the fanfare of the situation when he visits Liverpool: "I am very excited to be at the Luna Park of football", explained the Napoli coach, comparing the Reds' Anfield with the historic boxing venue in Argentina, "It is a prize to be there".
Much in the same way, Luciano Spalletti is thrilled with the opportunity to go one on one against one of the best managers in the game in Jurgen Klopp, while still not losing his sense of humour: "I am honored to be able to go on the bench next to Klopp. He is one of those coaches that you can hardly emulate, in the meantime I'll wear the cap like him".