Peseiro tips Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia to fire Napoli to UEFA Champions League glory

Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, believes that in Victor Osimhen and his strike partner, Kvaratskhelia, Napoli have the weapon to win this year’s UEFA Champions League.

Napoli will host Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie, which the Italian team led 3-1 on aggregate.

Speaking to sportitalia.com after watching Napoli’s 2-0 victory over Atalanta, at the weekend, which also featured another Nigerian, Ademola Lukman (Atalanta), Peseiro said coach Spalletti and his staff has done a great job on the Italian league leaders.

In the interview translated to English by The Guardian, Peseiro said, “Italian football has changed a lot in then last five years. Now everyone wants to play, press high, have possession.

“Years ago, it was more based on organised defence, closing every space to the opponents and hitting on the counter attack. Now, it is no longer so. Spalletti has moved very well in this evolution: his Napoli manages possession and above all has great intelligence in recognising the moments to strike.”

He said Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia have been decisive in Napoli’s transition from a perennial contenders to a league title favourites, adding that the team also have the power to win the Champions League this season.

“I think that Napoli, as well as being able to win the championship, can also aim to win the Champions League. This is because at the moment, I don’t see a team clearly superior to the others. Of course, there are teams full of champions like Real Madrid and the Bayern Munich, who obviously aim for victory, but I don’t see them as unbeatable this year.

“The 18 points gap between Napoli and second-paced Inter Milan allows Spalletti to be able to better manage his forces from here on out. Sure, provided that key players like Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia remain healthy.”