Giovanni Manna, Napoli coach, spoke to Sky ahead of the Champions League match against Villarreal, confirming his satisfaction with the turnover and Giovane's debut in the team. According to Manna, rotation is essential: "We have to play 9 games in 21 days, so it is necessary to rotate. Giovane came in well on Saturday, he is fine, he allows us to have different solutions on the bench and today we start like this." The coach also underlined the importance of not giving signs of a turning point, highlighting that Napoli have not won away for three years and that the ranking must improve. "We need to get points tonight on a complicated pitch. We need an important performance, I'm convinced that the boys will give everything on the pitch," he added.
Manna also spoke about McTominay, who has a two-year contract with the club. "We want him to stay as long as possible. There is an economic aspect, we are working on it hoping to find a solution that works for everyone. We have missed him in recent weeks, we are happy to have him back and he will play tonight," declared the coach. The focus is on whether the team needs a player with experience to face the challenge against Villarreal.
As for long-term goals, Manna has expressed an ambition to get as far as possible in the Champions League. "As far as possible in the Champions League, but it is a complicated competition and it also takes a bit of ass. Qualifying for the next Champions League is vital for the Italian teams, but we want to get as close as possible to the top. Perhaps we still haven't found the right trend of results, we must have faith in this group which is giving so much," he said. The coach also underlined the need to rejuvenate the group at the end of the season and aim for the Italian Cup, with the aim of reaching the end of the tournament.
Napoli, which is preparing to challenge Villarreal, is relying on the rotation of the squad and the determination of the players to try to improve its position in Serie A and continue its run in the Champions League. With the aim of reaching the top of the European tournament, the Neapolitan club is focusing on the present, but is already looking to the future with the hope of consolidating its presence in high-level competitions.