Napoli coach praises Xavi: “He knows how to transmit his knowledge”

Barcelona lock horns with Serie A title contenders Napoli in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout playoffs at Camp Nou later tonight.

The Catalan giants will be playing for the first time in the secondary continental competition since 2003/04 and will be eager to get off to a winning start.

Despite their exit from the Champions League this season, the Blaugrana have shown signs of progress under the tutelage of Xavi Hernandez. The club legend, who was named manager in November last year, is bringing back the Barcelona identity to the team, but it is clear that they still have a long way to go.

Nevertheless, the 42-year-old’s impact and influence are there for everyone to see, and Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has hailed Xavi ahead of their clash later tonight.

As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Spalletti said: “He was a footballer who controlled the time, the spaces and the matches, he sure knows how to transmit his knowledge and his quality to the equipment. 

“I see his team in a good moment, he seeks to build from the back, with a high defence and go on attack. Good footballers arrived in January, unpredictable, who know how to decide a game by themselves. They have a good level. Xavi will take Barça wherever he wants.”

As for the game itself, the Napoli boss added that his team will play in their natural way without changing their usual approach despite it being an away game.

“We have to try to be the Napoli of always, both when we play at home and away, we have to give our best with specific characteristics that we have to put into practice because our history tells us that we have to try to win by playing well.

“And we don’t make distinctions between the first leg and the second leg. A team is great when we are ourselves. And we have to find the right context for ourselves,” he said.