Napoli head coach Antonio Conte expects his side to rise to the challenge in their crucial Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen Tuesday.
Conte’s men head to Denmark desperate for a win to ease the possibility of missing out on the top 24 and suffering an humiliating early exit from the competition.
They do so in the middle of an injury crisis, with Matteo Politano and Amir Rrahmani both sidelined with muscle problems they picked up during Saturday’s return to winning ways in Serie A against Sassuolo.
With Brazilian David Neres also not travelling as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, Conte admitted his side will have to dig deep in order to stay in the Champions League hunt.
Conte told a press conference: “Tomorrow’s game is an important and decisive one. We will try to win and any other result will not be positive.
“The discussion with the boys was clear – we try to focus on who is there and find solutions. We lost Rrahmani and Politano in the last game and Neres has an ankle problem we can’t solve.
“When things like that happen it becomes difficult, but we have to give it everything we have. I know I have a group of guys who have always responded in a good way, especially in difficulties.”
Napoli could be set for the welcome return of striker Romelu Lukaku, who has not played since picking up an injury in pre-season but has been given the all-clear in training.
Conte added: “He has been with us for two days and I don’t know if he has the minutes. But he is starting to train with the team at a more intense pace.”
Napoli’s Champions League campaign has so far been a thoroughly underwhelming one, featuring a shock 6-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven, while all seven of their points have come at home.
But as they head to face a team who enter the game in a similar position, Napoli are buoyed by their win over Benfica last time out, as well as Saturday’s hard-fought win over Sassuolo.
That win snapped a run of three straight draws in Serie A and kept Conte’s men within six points of league leaders Inter Milan.
