Napoli prepare to welcome Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the UEFA Champions League’s matchday two. Having made a bouncy start to the season, the Partenopei will tread the mouthwatering encounter with great caution – also because of the return of Luka Modric and Rodrygo back into the starting lineup.
Rudi Garcia knows the significance the match holds, as he relayed in his pre-match press conference (via TuttoNapoli).
“It is the most beautiful competition. It is always special for a coach or a player. When we hear the music, we feel an important energy. I have already said that Napoli is a club that has to play it every year, we are first in the group with Real Madrid, but it is the championship that allows you to participate.”
“We did well in the last match. We can focus on this great event against one of the biggest clubs in the world with a unique list of successes, five victories in the last ten seasons, with the latest coming two years ago with the great coach that you know very well and that I also appreciate a lot. They have about ten players from the last final, it will be a difficult match but we have the ambition to play to win.”
Garcia is clear on what his side need, heart or brain, to win the clash.
“We will have the heart, but in some moments, we will also need the head to push or to prevent Real Madrid from showing their qualities. We need both, but we will have the heart without problems.”
UEFA has appointed French referee Clement Turpin as the man in charge of Tuesday’s game between the two European giants. Napoli won 2-1 against Braga on the opening matchday, whereas Real Madrid edged newcomers Union Berlin 1-0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |