Napoli, Allegri: “Porto are not our last chance. Sorting out our league campaign is more important than the Champions League. Either we suffer or we come away with broken bones. There are 13 of us; let’s see who’s still standing.”
The Napoli manager previewed the clash with Porto, dismissing any excuses for their poor run.
Napoli's 2-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin has plunged the club back into crisis, with a full-blown injury crisis adding to the pressure ahead of a Champions League trip to Portugal to face Porto that could decide their future in the competition.
At a press conference ahead of the match, Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri refused to use injuries as an excuse or call it a "last chance", but said their league campaign so far has fallen short of expectations.
Injuries are no excuse
"Having so many injured players does not take any pressure off, because this is an important Champions League match against a strong team. Right now, there is no point talking or explaining. We just have to act, work, get the injured players back and turn this negative period into a positive one."
Sorting out the league is the most important thing
"Tomorrow's match is difficult because Porto have won 10 league games in a row and have also put in some good performances in the Champions League. As for us, there's little point talking; we need to put in a good performance. In the Champions League, our fate is in our own hands because 10 points would get us at least into the play-offs. But then we need to sort things out in the league, which is the most important thing."
Suffering or a major flop
"Today I was told a statistic: we have conceded 11 goals in the last half-hour. It means that at that stage of matches we let something slip. Tomorrow, either we put in a performance that involves a lot of suffering or we come away badly beaten."
Hojlund yes, De Bruyne a doubt
"Hojlund is no longer feverish. As for De Bruyne, we'll train today and then see whether he'll be available for tomorrow.
There are 13 of us. It's not that I don't want to say whether he'll play or not, but I'll hold training and send those who are still standing onto the pitch. Right now, we're struggling to do a rondo in training."
It’s not the last resort
"Tomorrow is not make-or-break. Ten points will get us into the play-offs. Tomorrow is an important match. Manchester is an important match too, but an almost impossible one. We will be playing for a place in the next round against Club Brugge, Viking and Sabah".
