Despite injury worries, Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has expressed optimism over the fitness Victor Osimhen for today’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) clash against Liverpool, saying the Nigeria international may still be on duty tonight at the Maradona Stadium.
“He (Osimhen) followed a custom schedule today and it was positive. If he does well in training tomorrow then he could take part,” Spalletti said at Napoli’s pre-match press conference ahead of Matchday 1 in the Champions League against Liverpool.
An excited Spalletti believed Napoli has the quality to match the English giant : “Liverpool are a dynamic team, alternating between attacking from the left and from the right. They try and get in behind you and are relentless with their pressing. They don’t play an Italian-style of football, that’s for sure.
“Besides from the tactical side of things they’ve got amazing individuals who are great in one-on-one situations. We’ll need to have a lot of energy and use our heads so that they don’t tire us out and so that we can play our game.
“We’ll need to accept that at points they’ll be on top of us, while always recognising that we’ll be capable of doing them damage. It’s not like we need to play eye-catching football, we’ve just got to be effective and decisive. We don’t take to the pitch looking for plaudits, we just want to play to a Champions League standard and pick up points,” he added.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has been listed among the 10 wonder kids to watch in this season’s Champions League.
Also listed among the wonder kids is Osimhen’s teammate at Napoli Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Nicknamed ‘Kvaradona’, he was awarded Serie A player of the month after three goals and an assist during his first month in Naples.
According to Sportsmail, other players listed to sparkle in the UCL include RB Salzburg wonderkid Benjamin Sesko, Shakhtar Donestk winger Mudryk, Borussia Dortmund’s £32.5m summer signing Karim Adeyemi, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Juventus’ Fabio Miretti, and Porto’s Brazilian forward Evanilson.