Walter Mazzarri stated Monday that he desires Napoli to finish their dwelling hoodoo by beating Braga and confirming a spot within the final 16 of the Champions League. Napoli have not received in Naples since late September, with 4 defeats and two attracts from their most up-to-date six matches on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. A single-goal defeat on Tuesday would nonetheless enable the ailing Italian champions, who’re second in Group C and three factors forward of Braga, passage on aim distinction however Mazzarri desires to invert a worrying development on dwelling turf.
“I am not fascinated about something aside from that now we have a match at dwelling in opposition to a staff worthy of respect, we have to win it,” Mazzarri informed reporters.
“And tomorrow we have to not give them something, as a result of that can assist us proceed in an analogous vein between now and the top of the season.”
Mazzarri has had a tough begin to his second spell as Napoli coach, shedding three of his first 4 matches after taking up from the sacked Rudi Garcia final month.
After successful at Atalanta on his second debut the 62-year-old needed to tackle Actual Madrid and Juventus away, whereas the one dwelling match he has confronted to this point was in opposition to Serie A leaders Inter Milan, who’ve been Italy’s greatest staff for the reason that begin of the season and earned a convincing 3-0 win.
Napoli performed some brilliant soccer in these defeats, particularly in Madrid the place they went toe-to-toe for lengthy interval with the Spanish giants.
That has been trigger for restricted optimism regardless of falling 14 factors behind Inter and successfully surrendering their league title earlier than the top of the calendar 12 months.
“I feel the staff has proven that it is aware of tips on how to play soccer. However we have to rediscover the stability that they’d final season, that is my primary purpose,” added Mazzarri.
“We have been missing, outcomes sensible… However what actually pursuits me is getting out of the group whereas additionally displaying that we’re a stable staff once more, that we do not reward something to the opposition.”
Earlier than the pre-match press convention Mazzarri informed Sky that Victor Osimhen won’t begin Tuesday’s match as he travelled on Monday to Marrakesh, the place he could possibly be topped African Footballer of the Yr.
Osimhen, who’s but to attain on this season’s Champions League, is up in opposition to Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi for the continental gong and Mazzarri stated “I am going to discuss to him tomorrow and see if he can begin”.
Napoli are set to lose the Nigeria ahead for the Africa Cup on Nations, which begins within the Ivory Coast on January 13, after being with out their star striker for weeks with a hamstring harm.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is fighting a heavy chilly however ought to begin as he tries to beat underwhelming kind after dazzling Europe final time period.
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