Napoli prepare to take on Villarreal on the second day of the Champions League group stage, with the match scheduled for 9pm in Spain. Coach Massimiliano Allegri will be accompanied by the former defender of the Neapolitan team, Rafa Marin, who will present the press conference from the pitch of the Estadio de la Ceramica.
During the conference, Marin expressed optimism for the new start of the season. He underlined that, after two years of difficulty, he feels more mature and ready to give his all for Napoli. He thanked Villarreal for the welcome he received and highlighted the need to maintain preventive marking against a team which, according to him, has very fast players both in attack and defence. Marin also stated that the choice of defensive structure, be it three or four, is less relevant than the ability to obtain results.
The player spoke about his return to Napoli, stating that he felt comfortable with the coach and with the game system adopted, which includes a high defense and an offensive approach. He added that although it is not his main role, he would be happy to contribute some goals for the team. Marin recalled Napoli's experience in the Champions League the previous year, describing it as unsatisfactory due to the presence of inexperienced players and the difficulty encountered against top-level teams. He expressed confidence that the team can do better this year, citing the excellent performance against Borussia Dortmund as an example.
As for his teammates, Marin said he's had positive conversations with them, noting that while the starts haven't always been great, positive outcomes are still possible. He asked the public not to expect too much from Villarreal, but to recognize the difficulty of the match. The press conference ended at 7.45pm, leaving fans looking forward to a match that promises to be intense and competitive.