Arrigo Sacchi: "Napoli plays like Jurgen Klopp's prime Liverpool"

's side is at the top of the table with 23 points in their opening 9 games in Serie A, and have scored 22 goals as well. Also, they have scored 17 goals in 4 games in the Champions League group stage and are on their way to the elimination stage for the first time in the history of the competition. In the 1988-89 season, with the brilliance of Diego Maradona,

was able to win the UEFA Cup and in the 2014-15 season, it reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, but it has never been able to advance from its group in the Champions League.

Submitting a marvelous record of 42 goals in 14 matches across all competitions and already securing a spot in the Champions League’s knock-out stage, Arrigo Sacchi told

about the Partenopei:

“There must be a clear starting point: there should never be more than 20-25 meters between attack and defense.

“Like that, there is more collaboration and communication, and it is quicker to internalize the play. Napoli attack and defend with 11 players.

“They always play vertically; horizontal passes are quite rare. In other words, a striker always moves toward the playmaker, opening the space for late runs.

“These are not difficult movements to make, but it takes perfect synchrony and a lot of work in training.”

On the similarities between Napoli and Jurgen Klopp's

, who they beat 4-0 at the Stadio Maradona last month, Sacchi added:

“Spalletti is doing something extraordinary, sometimes, when they attack, they remind me of Klopp’s Liverpool, when the Reds were more willing to run.

“This has been made possible by Spalletti who has smart, available and enthusiastic players.”

“The risk is to think that the job is done. Now they are a collective and play as such. If they change, they would not be as pleasant to watch.”

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