Jurgen Klopp praised Carlo Ancelotti and “outstanding” Lorenzo Insigne. “I don’t see a gap between Napoli and Liverpool.”
“We’re ready for the battle and I don’t care what people say about our situation. Tomorrow we need to step up,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
Liverpool won their dramatic opener against Paris Saint-Germain, while the Partenopei were held 0-0 by Red Star Belgrade.
Klopp was sent off for dissent at the Stadio San Paolo in 2013 when he was still in charge of Borussia Dortmund.
“This is a fantastic manager, a fantastic team and an emotional crowd. I watched the second half with the groundsman in a little room last time and I heard he is still here. It was not my best performance.
“But it was my last time when I was a bit too excited. It won’t happen again. I missed two games. Had to watch from the stands.
“I don’t see a gap between Napoli and us. The atmosphere in a stadium is always a benefit. I enjoy it actually. It’s not that a team can’t perform in an emotional environment.”
Klopp chose the man to watch out for in the Napoli squad, one he already knows well.
“Insigne is an outstanding player. I’ve had to analyse him a few times. He’s still fantastic. I don’t remember his goal (against Dortmund), as bad things I filter immediately.”
When the draw for this Champions League group was made, Liverpool had only recently beaten Napoli 5-0 in a friendly.
“It was a pre-season friendly, nothing else. We scored with each shot. Napoli had a lot of chances.
“It’s not important and we didn’t talk about that game for one second.”