Champions League: Napoli manager warns Osimhen and Kvara as Di Lorenzo praises Eagles striker mindset

Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has praised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen for ‘returning with the right mindset’ to help Napoli and ‘qualification is wide open’ in the Champions League with Barcelona.

The Partenopei were making their debut under the third coach of the campaign, as Walter Mazzarri was only fired late Monday to make way for Francesco Calzona.

In the circumstances, their tense and nervous start to the game was understandable, but Alex Meret kept them in it with saves on Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Ilkay Gundogan.

Robert Lewandowski did finally break the deadlock, but Osimhen replied on his first match since leaving for Africa Cup of Nations duty in late December.

“It was a good performance against a strong team that is full of champions,” Di Lorenzo told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“We saw some of what we managed to try in training yesterday, we were solid and that is an important starting point.”

New coach Calzona only had two training sessions to prepare for one of the biggest matches of the season.

“We prepared the game in one and a half sessions, but the team was at his disposal. We must do more, but we made a small step forward and qualification is open.”

Napoli had just one shot on target, but it was a decisive one from the returning star striker Osimhen.

“Osimhen is a champion and he returned with the right mindset. He will give us a hand, just as Simeone and Raspadori will, now the coach has a lot of options to choose from,” added the captain.

As Camp Nou is undergoing restructuring work, the second leg on March 12 will be at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

“It is all wide open, getting a draw was important. Qualification to the quarter-finals would be important for everyone, for us, the club and the fans.

“We will give our all to progress beyond a truly strong opponent.”

Meanwhile, coach Francesco Calzona warned Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen he will ‘not look at their names’ after hauling them off against Barcelona in the Champions League.

When they were still trailing, Calzona surprised many by taking Kvaratskhelia off the field to introduce Jesper Lindstrom, much to the obvious anger of the Georgia international.

“I keep the players on the field who are doing well, I don’t look at their names,” the coach said in his press conference.

“Matteo Politano had an excellent match, he was defending well too with great vigour. Those who do not do well can be removed.”

There was some reassurance for Kvaratskhelia, who had stomped over to the bench without saluting teammates or the coach after his substitution.

“Kvara is a top player, he will help us out the way he did last season. Kvara was substituted, his performance was not fantastic, but it’s not unusual for a player to have an off night.

“Kvara will knuckle down, work harder. I was not disappointed with his movements tactically. He was lacking the moment to get past his man, but I am fairly satisfied.”

It was noted that Kvaratskhelia was the first player to leave the Stadio Maradona and stormed off through the mixed zone without speaking to anyone.

He had his hood pulled down over his head, but a scowl was still visible.

Calzona, who had been an assistant manager to both Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti at Napoli before being given the main job on Monday, also revealed he was not remotely tempted to keep Osimhen on for longer after the equaliser.

“No, in fact I had been ready to take him off earlier, but due to a tactical issue, I kept him on for a few more minutes.”