Spalletti: Milan is the favorite to win Champions League quarter-final
Despite sitting 20 points ahead of Milan in the Serie A, the Napoli boss insists the Rossoneri are favorites to win their Champions League quarter-final draw against Napoli.
After winning their last-16 tie against Eintracht Frankfurt, Napoli was drawn with Milan for their Champions League quarter-final round on Friday. The last time the two sides met, Napoli achieved a 2-1 victory at San Siro and they are currently sitting 20 points ahead of the Rossoneri at top of the Serie A table. However, Spalletti believes Milan are favorites to proceed to the next level.
He told
Kiss Kiss Napoli: “
It was very complicated against Eintracht Frankfurt, when everyone says you’re already through, you create a psychological disadvantage. That’s what they did with us against the Germans, it wasn’t easy at all.
“Then afterwards there was great happiness, we played it with a certain mental freedom. Happiness is deserved, but in these competitions it only lasts until the next round. A city like Naples with a fanbase like ours deserves even more, not just the result of the last match.”
Given that Napoli and Milan are due to play each other on April 2 in Serie A, Spalletti and Pioli will face each other three times in 16 days.
“I would have preferred not to meet an Italian side,”
he said.
“I’ve already heard some rumours going around and only the footballing incompetents talk about a good draw because Milan feel at home in the Champions League, they have won the competition seven times, second only to Real Madrid,” the Napoli coach continued.
“Needless to say that their director Paolo Maldini alone has won five. In the past few days, I’ve read that PSG and other teams like City are struggling to go all the way because they don’t have European experience. If what they write is true then we have to say that Milan are favourites in the Champions League. They knocked Tottenham out, not just any team.”
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