Juventus are one of Europe’s top sides but Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri says surrender to the Turin giants is off the agenda as they prepare for a crucial league clash with Roma.
Napoli host Roma today afternoon looking to stay in the early season title chase a fortnight after their first reverse of the season away to Atalanta.
Anything less than a win could see Napoli, currently four points adrift in second and a point ahead of Roma, lose more ground to Massimiliano Allegri’s league-leaders, who host struggling Udinese later in the day.
Although the pressure is on, Sarri struck a defiant tone yesterday. He warned not to confuse his previous praise of Juventus with submission to the Turin giants.
“I’ve always said Juve are like the Bayern Munich (of Germany), Paris Saint Germain (of France) and Barcelona (of Spain).Even you (media) write that they’re the strongest in Italy,” Sarri said.
“But to hear my comments interpreted as a kind of surrender really busts my balls. I’m not the type to surrender. Otherwise I would never have made it to Serie A from second tier football.”
Sarri, who secured Napoli’s return to the Champions League this season after a runner-up place behind Juve in 2016, lost striker Arkadiusz Milik to a cruciate knee ligament injury last week that should sideline the Pole for six months.
Italian Manolo Gabbiadini is expected to step into that role, flanked by Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon in the hope the Azzurri can replicate the “fast” game that has Roma coach Luciano Spalletti purring with admiration.
Juventus may have the league titles — 32 compared to Napoli’s two — but Spalletti is among the Azzurri’s big admirers.
“Napoli play fast and they’re the best in the league at it,” said Spalletti. “Especially in terms of balance and for staying compact.
“Hats-off to Sarri because he’s astute, he’s come up with a few new things and done it well.
“In certain games, we’ve not been up to par but I don’t believe we’re inferior to them.”
Roma held Napoli to a scoreless draw at the San Paolo last December, before beating Napoli 1-0 in the capital thanks to Radja Nainggolan’s 89th minute winner.
Although Roma have yet to win away from home this season, losing 3-1 at Torino on their last away outing last month, Sarri was full of praise for Spalletti, who replaced Frenchman Rudi Garcia in January 2015.
“Spalletti is a top level coach, remember what Roma were like before he arrived,” said Sarri.
Roma, however, may have to do without central midfielder Kevin Strootman due to fatigue after he toiled through two World Cup qualifiers with the Netherlands.
“He had to play both games without training so today he was rested because he wasn’t in great form,” said Spalletti, who had a more positive view on Belgium midfielder Nainggolan.
“He’s been through a tough period but now he’s on his way back, so hopefully he can give us back what he’s lacked lately.”
This fixture should produce fireworks, but Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj is expecting Napoli to keep their title chase alive.
“We’ll give it everything against Roma. The stadium will be full and we’ll have goosebumps,” said the Albanian.