Diego Maradona praised Maurizio Sarri and is confident Napoli can trouble Real Madrid, remembering how his side “made Italy respect us.”
El Pibe de Oro visited the team in training today and embraced Coach Sarri, confirming he’ll be in Spain for the first leg of Real Madrid-Napoli in the Champions League Round of 16.
“These last few days in Naples have been very intense,” Maradona told Piuenne television this evening.
Diego Maradona praised Maurizio Sarri and is confident Napoli can trouble Real Madrid, remembering how his side “made Italy respect us.”
El Pibe de Oro visited the team in training today and embraced Coach Sarri, confirming he’ll be in Spain for the first leg of Real Madrid-Napoli in the Champions League Round of 16.
“These last few days in Naples have been very intense,” Maradona told Piuenne television this evening.
“People remember that Scudetto 30 years on and that brought back many happy memories for me too. There isn’t a person in the street who didn’t bring back a memory for me.
“With every year that goes by, the affection of the Neapolitan people remains incredible. They know full well we went out there to win games, some of them very difficult. The first few years weren’t great, but then we built a wonderful team.
“This is why the affection and joy of the San Paolo crowd made us breathe in a different atmosphere. I realised Napoli didn’t represent something just for football. We played for all of Italy and won everywhere. Neapolitans felt respected, strong. Before people would joke that we needed to wash, but with the ball at our feet we made sure Italy respected us.
“I told (then-President Corrado) Ferlaino that either he built a team to win the Scudetto or I would’ve left. We had 80,000 spectators in the stadium every week to battle it out with Cremonese. The fans deserved more and the President realised that too.”
As for the current outfit, Maradona had initially been very critical of Sarri, but changed his mind.
“Sarri performed miracles with the players he had at his disposal. He missed so many in midfield and still did a great job. With Arkadiusz Milik absent, he realised that he had to work with Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne, making the team perform in an incredible way.
“I like Piotr Zielinski a great deal. I think with Milik fit, Napoli will be at 100 per cent and really become a side to be feared. With Milik, they can really have their say against Real Madrid and I expect a very open game.
“Let nobody in Madrid believe Napoli are already out. Many thought this over the years and were left crying after the games. Only Barcelona and Real Madrid have players who can win by themselves, then you need teamwork. That is why Napoli are not second to these sides, because their teamwork lifts the performance to their level.
“There are people at the San Paolo who deserve the Scudetto. We cannot target third place. We mustn’t settle.”
Maradona has aimed several snide comments at Higuain and did not hold back.
“Higuain’s big mistake was working behind the club and people’s backs. If he had left in a clearer way, he wouldn’t be so hated by the fans. There are ways to leave Napoli, because leaving this club is different to any other side in the world.”
Diego is on the verge of a return, as he talked with President Aurelio De Laurentiis about becoming Napoli’s ambassador in the world.
“I will meet him again after the Madrid game. The President is a great businessman and if I can put him in contact with the right people, we can do something good.”
Image via @sscnapoli