The former Liverpool and Napoli manager Rafa Benitez has been giving his thoughts on tonight’s massive Champions League tie at Anfield.
The Spaniard managed the Reds from 2004-2010 and their Champions League opposition tonight from 2013-2015 and therefore knows both clubs intimately.
Both clubs’ progression in the tournament rest on the result of tonight’s tie, with Liverpool needing a 1-0 win, at the very least, to find their way through from Group C.
In an interview with the Mirror, the Newcastle United boss has said that the famed Anfield atmosphere will pose a problem to the Italian visitors.
“It will be a fantastic atmosphere at Anfield – it always is – and Champions League nights are even better, so it will be difficult for Napoli,” he said.
But the nous of the Serie A side’s manager and squad can help them overcome the scouse din, in his view.
“Carlo Ancelotti has experience of operating at this level. And he has players such as keeper Raul Albiol, wingers Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens, playmaker Marek Hamsik and striker Lorenzo Insigne who will not be worried about any noise.”
Liverpool might be desperate to right the wrongs of a muted European campaign to date but the visitors know, too, the value of progression.
A painful failure to do so during Benitez’ reign is well-remembered by him.
In the words of the Champions League-winning manager: “Napoli know what it means to qualify. In my first season there, we won 12 group points — and didn’t go through. It was the first time a team with that number of points hadn’t qualified."
“I can still remember the faces after the last game. It was hard to take. And a lot of those players are still there. Yes, they will know what it means.”
