Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo expressed cautious optimism after his side’s hard-fought 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League first leg. Despite a nervous start under new coach Francesco Calzona, Di Lorenzo praised the team’s resilience and believes qualification remains within reach.
“It was a good performance against a strong team,” Di Lorenzo told Amazon Prime Video Italia. “We saw some of what we practiced yesterday, we were solid, and that’s an important starting point.”
The defender acknowledged the unique challenges presented by Calzona’s limited time to prepare. “We prepared the game in one and a half sessions, but the team was at his disposal,” he said. “We must do more, but we made a small step forward, and qualification is open.”
Di Lorenzo highlighted the impact of Victor Osimhen’s return, whose late equalizer secured the crucial draw. “Osimhen is a champion, and he returned with the right mindset,” he declared. “He will give us a hand, just like Simeone and Raspadori. Now the coach has a lot of options.”
The captain emphasized the importance of the away goal and the opportunity it presents. “Getting a draw was important. Qualification to the quarter-finals would be important for everyone,” he stated. “We will give our all to progress beyond a truly strong opponent.”
With the second leg scheduled for Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on March 12th, Napoli knows the fight is far from over. However, Di Lorenzo’s optimism reflects a team that has found a spark under Calzona and believes they can overcome the odds against Barcelona.