PEP WARNING: GET READY TO SUFFER
But City boss says stars will have ‘no fear’ at Napoli
PEP GUARDIOLA has warned his players they will ‘ suffer like never before’ when Manchester City meet Napoli tonight.
City are guaranteed a hot reception in arguably the most hostile venue in Italian football, and Guardiola expects the toughest test of this season’s Champions League group stage against the Serie A leaders.
Napoli are unbeaten here in all competitions since losing to Real Madrid in March, and pushed City all the way in a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad a fortnight ago.
‘We have a big, big challenge,’ said Guardiola. ‘There will be moments to defend, moments when we are going to suffer like never before, and I’m going to see how we react.
‘We know how difficult the first game was and we’ll have to have the same courage. We are two similar teams and it’s difficult to play away from home. I’m very honoured to be in this stadium.’
There are striking comparisons between two teams committed to high-intensity, attacking football. Both top their domestic leagues having dropped just two points and scored in excess of 30 goals.
Napoli are unbeaten in five games against Premier League clubs at home, including a 2-1 win over City in 2011.
Their coach Maurizio Sarri says he wants to see ‘fear on the faces’ of City players, but Guardiola responded: ‘Fear? There is no fear, just respect for the way they play. There should never be fear.
‘We are a very young club. We don’t have history like Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid. We only have four players who have played at this level and a lot of young ones. It’s an important game for us to grow as a club.’
City can qualify for the knockout stage with a drawdraw, but Guardiola insists it will not be his intention to play for a point.
‘Why play for a draw when we can play for a win?’ he said. ‘We are going to try to win. After that we will see what happens.’
Sitting beside his manager last night at City’s waterfront hotel by the Bay of Naples, David Silva wore a baseball cap to cover his shaved head.
The Spaniard is in talks over a 12-month contract extension until 2020 anand confirmed he wants to agree terms to complete a decade at the Etihad. ‘We are still talking,’ said Silva. ‘I hope I can sign soon because I would love to be here and play for City for 10 years.’
Guardiola paid tribute to the mercurial midfielder, who has improved in a more central role since the former Barcelona coach took over last year.
‘David is a master,’ said Guardiola. ‘You see he’s shy here and he doesn’t talk too much, but when he goes on the pitch he’s a huge personality.
‘He’s a legend at this club. It would have been a pleasure to take him for Barcelona — but he was too expensive!’
Silva acknowledged that City are playing the best football since he arrived from Valencia for £26million in 2010, and also his desperation to win the Champions League under Guardiola.
‘It would be amazing,’ he added. ‘I pray every night to win the
Champions League with City. Hopefully we can win it this year.
‘We are playing really beautiful football, scoring so many goals and creating a lot of chances.’