Napoli’s Luciano Spalletti Fires Back at Pep Guardiola After Champions League Remark

• Napoli's head coach was left unimpressed by Pep Guardiola's comments about his team
• Guardiola was of the idea that the Serie A giants are the best team in Europe this season
• Both Napoli and Manchester City qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League

Luciano Spaletti has responded to Pep Guardiola's claims that his side are currently the best team in Europe.

Napoli will be among the teams in the quarter-final draw on March 17, alongside Guardiola's Manchester City.

The Italian giants are undoubtedly among the favourites after leading an almost error-free season so far.

Napoli are a few games away from winning their first Scudetto in over 30 years. The combination of Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has proven too strong for opposition teams.

Kompany returns to Man City as rising star of management

Football

The Partenopei saw off Eintracht Frankfurt with an aggregate score of 5-0, while City beat RB Leipzig 8-1 over two legs.

Speaking after the games, Guardiola lavished praise on Spalletti's charges.

"Napoli are perhaps the best team in Europe this year, in terms of style of play... close to Arsenal," he stated.

Spalletti answers Guardiola

However, Spalletti has slammed Guardiola for his remarks by claiming that it is often a tactic of the Spanish boss to rattle other teams.

When asked if he was proud of the Man City coach's comments, the Florence-born manager retorted:

"No, I'm not proud. It doesn't make me proud. It's a game to put pressure on the rest. We all know it already," he said as quoted by Marca.

"How are you going to put a team that invested 9 million euros ahead of a team that spent 900 million? It's a little game to say we'll put you there and then you're sure to fall."

Why Barca can virtually secure Liga title in decisive Clasico

Football

Guardiola has often been quoted as praising other teams before games only to beat them by a wide margin on matchday.

A possible match-up between Napoli and Manchester City is definitely on the cards when the draw takes place in Nyon on Friday..

Guardiola on his club future

Sports Brief previously reported on Guardiola's current Man City contract running until the summer of 2025 after he signed a contract extension in December.

However, there is growing speculation the Spanish manager could leave Man City and England if he is unable to lead the Citizens to the Champions League title.

Returning to Barcelona, managing Paris Saint-Germain, or even coaching the Spanish national team are options for him, although he ruled out the Italian league.