Arkadiusz Milik has claimed it will take “patience” when they aim to “climb the table” and look ahead to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Napoli have gone through a lot of changes this campaign and the turbulent start to the season has left a mark at the San Paolo.
Things are on the up for the Partenopei, but the Polish striker keeps his head low and intent to “work hard” to help the team achieve their targets.
Arkadiusz Milik has claimed it will take “patience” when they aim to “climb the table” and look ahead to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Napoli have gone through a lot of changes this campaign and the turbulent start to the season has left a mark at the San Paolo.
Things are on the up for the Partenopei, but the Polish striker keeps his head low and intent to “work hard” to help the team achieve their targets.
“There’s a lot of work left to do,” Milik told Radio Kiss Kiss. “We changed formation. With [Carlo] Ancelotti we played in a 4-4-2 and there are different movements in the 4-3-3. It will take time to understand them.
“We have improved a lot of things, such as our play out from the back. Now, we need some time to improve going forward, the finishing. I hope we will be able to do it in time and bring the results needed.”
The Poland international has scored seven times in 10 League matches this term and has admitted he is “happy” with his own stats.
“I hope to be able to play even better. I am happy with my record,” he said. “But I’m not happy about what we’ve done as a team. We are to far down in the table. We want to be higher and we have to look ahead. There’s a lot of work to do. I hope that we will see improvements in our game going forward.
“We always want to bring the three points home, starting with the match against Fiorentina.”
Napoli haven’t won a Serie A match at the San Paolo since October and the 25-year-old wants to do something about it when they welcome the Viola to Naples on Saturday.
“Our goal is to recover the points lost in the League. We want to do everything to climb the table,” he said. “We are improving, now we need patience and hard work.
“We hope to win on Saturday.”
After the 2-0 win against Perugia, the Partenopei will face Lazio in the Coppa Italia, whilst they are through to the last 16 in the Champions League.
“It will be difficult to win the Champions League, we know that,” Milik added. “We face a very strong side in Barcelona. We have many targets, including the League and to win the Coppa Italia. If we have the possibility, we have to do it.”
“We have to recover our injured players; they can help us a lot. Especially those who contributed a lot to create a name for Napoli. [Dries] Mertens, [Kalidou] Koulibaly, [Faouzi] Ghoulam, [Nikola] Maksimovic…
“Everyone is important. We hope they will return soon, and they can help, they are fundamental for us.”
Milik sent a message to Nicolò Zaniolo and said he feels “very sorry” for the Roma winger who ruptured his ACL against Juventus last weekend.
“I’m very sorry for him. I injured my knee twice, it’s bad moments. But you have to work,” he said. “He has already been operated, the rehabilitation will be long and complicated. I hope to see him in the European Championship, but I don’t know if he will succeed, it’s tight.”
The Azzurri have brought in Diego Demme from RB Leipzig and Stanislav Lobotka from Celta Vigo this January and Milik is looking forward to play with them.
“They are players who can help, but I haven’t seen enough to say anything more than that,” he admitted. “We have only trained together two times. Hopefully, they can help. They are good signings, but it’s too early to say anything.”
Milik admitted that he is already thinking about the two big games against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
“You always expect a lot from games like those,” he said. “The Champions League matches against the best teams in the world, such as Barcelona.
“We have a lot of respect for them, but we don’t fear them. We want to advance, it will be difficult, but everything is possible.”