- Title: Liverpool are favourites but Napoli has improved, Ancelotti says
- Date: 16th September 2019
- Summary: CASTEL VOLTURNO, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 16, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NAPOLI COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, AND STRIKER, FERNANDO LLORENTE, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) NAPOLI COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "We will face the best team in the group, the best team in Europe, the team that now, unlike all the other teams in Europe, has had no defects. It started with full points, the match will be a difficult test but at the same time it will be a very exciting match." JOURNALIST LOOKING AT LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) NAPOLI COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "Liverpool has improved because last year's season has given them many confirmations and a lot of awareness but on the other hand, Napoli has improved too and has added quality players to the squad and has gained more experience. So, I think on an emotional level, it will be a match similar to the one we played last year, a tough and very intense game. We hope to have the same result as last year." JOURNALIST LOOKING AT LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) NAPOLI COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "They improved in confidence because when you win usually you improve your confidence and the knowledge. They're playing automatic football in the sense that all the movement they do they do automatically and for this reason I think they are better compared to last season. Of course they are favourites for the Premier League not because they have five points ahead in this moment, but because they are a really good team." MEDIA PLAYERS TRAINING DEFENDER, KOSTAS MANOLAS (44), AND FORWARD, LORENZO INSIGNE (24), PASSING BALL BALL ON PITCH ANCELOTTI WALKING ON PITCH AND TALKING TO PLAYERS PLAYERS WARMING UP FORWARD, ARKADIUSZ MILIK (99), AND DEFENDER, KALIDOU KOULIBALY (26), AMONGST TEAM MATES WARMING UP PLAYERS PASSING BALL FORWARD, JOSE MARIA CALLEJON (7), PASSING BALL INSIGNE, AND, MANOLAS, WALKING ON PITCH TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS KOULIBALY DURING TRAINING NAPOLI EMBLEM ANCELOTTI KICKING BALL ON PITCH
- Embargoed: 30th September 2019 18:53
- Keywords: Naples Champions League Liverpool Italy Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti soccer football
- Location: CASTEL VOLTURNO, ITALY
- City: CASTEL VOLTURNO, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AWWNY2N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti on Monday (September 16) tagged Liverpool as favourites ahead of their Champions League match on Tuesday (September 17), but also warned Jurgen Klopp's side that the Naples-based club are better than last season.
Last season Napoli edged Liverpool 1-0 in the group stage, but the Reds then beat Napoli in the reverse fixture to knock them out, before going on to lift the trophy.
The defending champions are boosted by a remarkable run that has seen them win their last fourteen Premier League matches sandwiched between last season's 2-0 Champions League final win over Tottenham in Madrid, but Ancelotti said his squad has grown too.
This season, Liverpool are already five points clear a top the Premier League standings and are averaging three goals a game with their latest victory, a 3-1 win against Newcastle, coming at Anfield on Saturday (September 14).
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