Mancini wary of Napoli threat and expecting a tight competition in group stages: UCL news
Manchester City manager, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323, is aware of Napoli threat ahead of their UEFA Champions League debut.
City were drawn up against Bayern Munich, Villarreal and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003 in the Group A of their debut campaign in Champions League. City will host the Azzurri in their first game of this season’s competition on September 14, 2011. Mancini believes that Napoli is a quality attacking opposition and it will be a difficult game for his side.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Maradona-c11160 in it and it was a very strong team.
“It’s always difficult for me to play against an Italian team. Napoli are a good side with fantastic supporters. The best moment for them was when Diego Maradona played and they were in the European Cup. City’s group is clearly the most competitive in the tournament given the presence of Bayern Munich and Villarreal too.”
The 46-year-old is aware of the strong competition in the group and wants to start strongly in order to seal qualification for the next stage. Mancini believes that any team can finish first or fourth in the group and it is very difficult to predict anything at the moment.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 boss is keeping his hopes high and the fact that Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa won the competition in their debut campaigns, spurs him to perform well.
“The group is very strong. You can win the section or finish in fourth position. It’s an incredible competition. I played with Sampdoria in it for the first time in 1991 and we reached the Final. Many teams played in the European Cup for the first time, like Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, and won it. It’s a crazy tournament.”
Manchester City are in rich vein of form and have picked up maximum points from all four of their Premier League outings thus far.
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