'Napoli idiots if they don't qualify!'

By Football Italia staff

Aurelio De Laurentiis agrees with Coach Carlo Ancelotti that Napoli will be ‘idiots’ if they do not qualify for the Champions League last 16.

Napoli face Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, needing a win to put themselves in a strong position for the knockout stages, although the Serbs surprisingly beat Liverpool 2-0 last time out.

“Ancelotti saying we’d be idiots if we didn’t qualify? He’s right,” De Laurentiis told reporters.

“It would be great if we were able to go through, also for Italian football. The fans? I don’t think there’ll be 50,000 in the stands, but we’ll see if the good weather helps them come to the San Paolo.

“However, winning isn’t what counts tonight, rather how the team play.. It’ll be important not to feel the pressure.

“Chievo? I’d have many things to say about that game, but I don’t want to destabilise my dressing room.

“Red Star? Only cretins can underestimate them. They beat Liverpool and it’s no coincidence.

“When you go to play in Belgrade, it’s as if you were going to play in a lion’s den. Not losing there has put us in a position to top the group, even if everything’s still in play, for better or worse.”

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