Napoli, who are second in Serie A thanks to the goals scored by “Georgian Messi”, will host fluctuating Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s piloted by Liverpool, they will face Napoli in their opening game of the Champions League group stage.
Liverpool, who had a fluctuating start to their season, published at the beginning of the week video (you will switch to another service)with which the club’s CEO Andy Hughes among other things, urged supporters to avoid going to Napoli’s home stadium on their own.
The beaming German pilot’s expression darkened when he was asked at a press conference if he thinks Napoli is a safe place for away supporters.
– That’s an embarrassing question for you. You want to make catchy headlines. I really don’t get it. Are you from Naples? What do you think? I do not know. I don’t live an ordinary life in Naples. I’m safe here with the team, I’m going to the hotel, and you ask me what I think about Napoli, an exhausted Klopp said.
– If some supporters meet other supporters, something can happen. It has nothing to do with the city, so I don’t know. But I’m not here to create headlines for you.
– If you don’t know what to ask, that’s not a problem, because I’d be happy to go to the hotel to focus on tomorrow’s game. It seems you have nothing to ask, Klopp said and threatened to leave for the hotel in the middle of the press conference.
Naples has been one of the main locations of the Italian mafia and the local Camorra is the oldest organized crime organization in Italy.
Liverpool receives “Kvaradona”
Napoli has been a difficult opponent for Liverpool and Klopp, especially in Italy. The teams have met in the Champions League group stage a total of four times in the seasons 2018–19 and 2019–20. Napoli have won both of their home matches, one match has ended in a draw and Liverpool have won one of their home matches.
With his previous club Dortmund, Klopp also suffered defeat at home to Napoli in the 2013-14 Champions League season.
– I have never won here. Not with Dortmund and not with Liverpool. “But we’ve reached the Champions League final when Napoli have been with us in the group stage,” Klopp joked, referring to Liverpool’s spring 2019 title run.
– I have blossomed late. I need time to achieve things. Sometimes I have to try two, three or four times, Klopp, 55, said.
In the past years, a sport icon went wild in Naples Maradonabut now there’s a new hero in town, namely the 21-year-old Georgian prospect Khvicha “Kvaradona” Kvaratskhelia. “Georgian Messi” moved to Serie A from Dinamo Batumi of his home league for 10 million euros in July. He has scored four goals in five matches and ranks second in the goal exchange of the main league.
The versatile ball player has earned a nickname referring to Maradona.
Napoli is second in Serie A after five games played thanks to goal difference, two points behind the top team Atalanta. Liverpool, on the other hand, is seventh in the Premier League after six rounds.
The matches Ajax–Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt–Sporting, Inter–Bayern Munich, Barcelona–Plzen, Atletico Madrid–Porto, Tottenham–Marseille and Club Brugge–Leverkusen will also be played on Wednesday.