"Madrid were smart to replace Benzema with Bellingham"

Frenchman Rudi Garcia said on Monday that Napoli have a chance of beating Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, but that they will need humility and to "give 120%" to beat the Spanish side.

"We have a good chance, we are strong in every way. But to win we will need humility and 120% of our qualities," said the Napoli coach at the press conference ahead of Tuesday's clash at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona (21.00 CET).

A match that the coach is certainly looking forward to, and he stressed the importance of facing Madrid: "This match is something that every coach dreams of".

"The Champions League is the best club competition. The anthem on the pitch gives you an important boost and Napoli have to play this competition every year," he added.

The Frenchman, criticised at the start of the season for the doubts generated by his team and who have been strengthened by the last two Serie A victories, praised Real Madrid.

"Think of Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world with a unique record of success. I really appreciate Ancelotti, who I know well. It will be a difficult game, but we have the ambition to go out on the pitch and do everything we can to win," he explained.

"We will have to use our heads and our hearts. The heart will certainly be on the pitch, but we'll need our heads. There will be moments in the game when we will have to be good at pressing or preventing Madrid from imposing their qualities," he said.

Rudi Garcia also praised the signing of Englishman Bellingham: "Madrid handled the departure of Benzema well and was smart to replace Karim with a player with different characteristics and who is very good. But I don't want to think only of one player, Joselu is also very good".

"In general, they are a technical team but also a physical one, good at set pieces," he concluded.

 

October 2, 2023