Andre Villas-Boas has hailed Napoli ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with the Serie A club, claiming that the Naples-based club are one of the most dangerous club’s in the competition.
“I think we have one of the most difficult draws but whichever team you get in the last 16 will be a difficult team,” Villas-Boas told the club’s official website.
“Napoli is a club that represents the city and the city has great empathy with the club.
“It has a tremendous fan base and it is one of the most difficult and exciting games of the last 16, no doubt about it.”
The Portuguese boss praised Premier League targets Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani as the Serie A side’s most dangerous duo, but also admitted that Napoli have a great amount of talent throughout their entire squad.
“They are a side that works collectively very well and [head coach] Walter Mazzarri has always been a coach that organises his teams very well,” Villas-Boas added.
“They have been improving tremendously under his guidance and have been gaining the results that they want and they expect.
“They are fully motivated and they have a lot of talent coming through like Hamsik and Cavani. They have a lot of talent throughout.”
Luckily, the Blues will play the second leg of this Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge, where they defeated almighty Manchester City this past Monday night.
“It is always good [to play the second leg at home] but we have to make sure we create the same environment at home as in the Stadio San Paolo in Naples, because it is one of the biggest stadiums in the world and the empathy between club and city comes to enormous proportions at the game,” Villas-Boas admitted.
“The fans are an incentive for the team all the way through.
“So it is important that Stamford Bridge replicates that, like we did against Valencia and Man City because that can be a major help.
“We are looking forward to the games and hopefully we can prepare well and hopefully we can go through.”
Star winger Juan Mata seems to be in agreement with his boss, but also pointed out that Chelsea must not overlook the Premier League.
“Tough draw in the knockout stage. Napoli is our rival in Champions,” said Mata via Twitter.
“The first leg in Italy will be very complicated. What do you reckon? I like this team, with fast, handstand and incisive players.
“But first of all, before that, we need to focus in the Premier League, tomorrow we play against Wigan. We will try to keep the winning streak.”
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