Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti is looking forward to playing against 'legendary' sides in Group A of the Champions League after his team was drawn alongside Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers on Thursday evening.
Spalletti named Anfield as one of the world's 'great footballing theatres', along with the Johan Cruyff Arena and Ibrox. Napoli will face a tough task qualifying for the knock out stages of the Champions League, but they were a pot three side Liverpool may have wanted to avoid.
Liverpool have taken on Napoli a number of times in the Champions League, including memorably in the group stages of 2018/19 and the Reds then went on to lift the trophy at the end of that memorable season.
READ MORE: Liverpool's transfer business will likely see Jurgen Klopp have to make two sacrifices
READ MORE: Liverpool overlooked as pundits name Champions League 'favourites' after draw
After the draw was concluded on Thursday, the Napoli boss spoke about the draw his side had been handed to sscnapoli.it.
“We’ve been pitted against three very tricky teams but I don’t think they’ll be too happy to have got Napoli either," said Spalletti. "We’ve ended up in a really difficult group, but then nearly all Champions League groups are. It’s always hard to put a percentage on your chances of going through.
“The main thing is we do ourselves justice in the world’s premier club competition – and doing ourselves justice means increasing our chances of reaching the next round.
“We’re in a group with three clubs who have helped write the history of European football, three legendary clubs who play at some of the world’s great footballing theatres: the Johan Cruyff Arena, Anfield and Ibrox Stadium. It will be a journey into the story of European and world football.”
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool 'really excited' by young 33-goal striker as two more players impress
- Jurgen Klopp has already praised 'really good' midfielder who could solve Liverpool problem
- Champions League boost for Liverpool after key £1.2bn deal reached that could keep on rising
- Liverpool set for double squad reunion in Champions League against Rangers
- 'Most difficult’ - Steve McManaman makes Liverpool Champions League draw claim and names key fixtures