There is no time for a team still settling under a new coach to wait for its Champions League rhythm. After a demanding night at the Bernabéu, the focus has already shifted to Napoli, with one member of the squad insisting the side now has clarity, confidence and a sharper understanding of what Europe demands from its opening match.
The player said the group had needed time to absorb the methods of the new manager, but believes that process is now bearing fruit. “We are in a good moment,” he said. “It was difficult at the start, which is normal when a new coach arrives because there has to be an adaptation period. But we feel very well, our ideas are clear and we know what awaits us tomorrow.”
Last season’s European campaign remains a motivation rather than a burden. The team did not meet its own standards in the competition, although the player pointed to a strong display against Borussia in a difficult away setting, where they made life uncomfortable for their hosts and felt they had done enough to earn a draw. This time, the intention is to give supporters the Champions League win that escaped them a year ago.
“We are a stronger team because of that experience,” he said. “We want to give the fans, and ourselves, what we could not give them last season: a victory.”
Napoli demand a fast European response
The message from the camp is that Champions League points cannot be deferred. Every fixture carries immediate consequences, and the side will approach Napoli with the same identity and ambition regardless of the opposition. The player stressed that the hunger to win must be visible from the first minute.
Preparation has centred on playing the way the team has trained, while retaining the flexibility to respond to the shape of the match. “We have very clear ideas about what we have to do,” he said. “We will see what the game gives us and then do one thing or another, but the desire to win will not be missing.”
The Bernabéu result has not been forgotten, but neither can it dominate the week. The player described the performance there as an important lesson after the team competed against one of the world’s leading sides and its elite players, believing the display warranted more. Yet the European calendar moves quickly, and Napoli are now the only priority.
Napoli are expected to provide a difficult, experienced test, with the opposition carrying significant individual quality. The player said his team would need to give “100 per cent” to take the win, but voiced confidence that they would do so. He also revealed a lighter personal edge to the contest after speaking this week with Rafa, who jokingly warned that he would deliver plenty of kicks.
Asked where he expected to play, the response was straightforward: the important thing was being on the pitch. Wherever he is selected, he said, he will give everything as the side looks to begin its European week with the result it missed last season.
