"Tomorrow is the anniversary of Maradona's death. It would be great to win" - Antonio Conte is fully focused on tomorrow's match against Qarabag
Kenley Ward
Dailysports's expert
This match will be a special one for every Napoli supporter.
Details: Tomorrow will see the 5th round of the Champions League group stage as Napoli face Azerbaijan's Qarabag, a fixture that coincides with the anniversary of the legendary Argentine Diego Maradona's passing—a true icon of the Neapolitan club.
Conte's squad fully understands the importance of tomorrow's clash, and the coach himself is clearly fired up for the battle ahead:
"A decisive match? Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Maradona's death. We know what he means to Napoli. It would be wonderful if we could dedicate a victory to him. Qarabag have certainly been a revelation. They drew with Chelsea. They play at a high tempo and have some quality young players in their ranks. We'll need a lot of energy right from the first whistle." Conte stated.
Conte also clarified the situation regarding Romelu Lukaku, who is currently in rehabilitation after a hamstring injury:
"Lukaku? No, he's not ready yet. He still has work to do. When it comes to his importance from every angle, we're talking about a player with international recognition. He gives so much, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He's one of the most charismatic figures. It's crucial to get him back, because, as I said, these are really exceptional circumstances and we all need to stand firm."
At the moment, Napoli sit 24th in the overall Champions League group stage standings with just 4 points to their name.
Reminder: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to stand trial