Champions League: Napoli thrashes Ajax 6-1

Muricas News  — 

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti invoked the reminiscence of membership legend Diego Maradona after watching his aspect thrash Ajax 6-1 within the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Italian workforce fell behind early within the match after Mohammed Kudus’ ricocheted purpose however replied by demolishing the hosts with a powerful efficiency.

Objectives from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Piotr Zielinski, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giovanni Simeone complimented a effective brace from Giacomo Raspadori to silence the Johan Cruijff Area and preserve Napoli’s 100% begin to this season’s Champions League marketing campaign.

“We performed an ideal sport. We have now proven what we're able to. Even Maradona would have been happy with us,” Spalletti advised reporters after the match.

Maradona, who died in 2020, is rarely removed from the minds of Napoli followers after he impressed the membership to its most profitable period.

The membership has not gained a league title since 1987 and 1990 when Maradona was at his peak, however the efficiency in Amsterdam has supporters dreaming of a brand new golden period.

Spalletti, although, is making an attempt to maintain his workforce’s ft on the bottom regardless of an unbeaten begin to Serie A.

“One match doesn't change your life. It was a superb efficiency. It’s very good to win like this, however now now we have to return to fascinated about the following sport. There are groups in Serie A which might be doing very properly,” he added.

Whereas Maradona was the star of his technology, Georgian attacker Kvaratskhelia would possibly properly be the star of this one.

The 21-year-old, who scored his first Champions League purpose in opposition to Ajax, joined the membership this season after a quick spell with Georgian aspect Dinamo Batumi.

He had beforehand impressed at Russian aspect Rubin Kazan, however his contract was suspended amid the invasion of Ukraine.

His tempo and attacking aptitude has followers drawing parallels with Maradona and he’s since earned the nickname ‘Kvaradona’.

Regardless of scoring six objectives in 11 appearances for Napoli and curiosity from Europe’s high golf equipment, Kvaratskhelia is simply trying to proceed his improvement.

“I can’t come near Maradona, however I'll give my all to be an enormous participant for this membership,” he advised reporters final month.

Ajax, in the meantime, will likely be left licking its wounds after a bruising encounter.

Captain Dusan Tadić blamed a turbulent summer time for the defeat, having seen so many skilled gamers go away the membership within the switch market.

“We have now seven or eight new gamers. If you lose that many gamers, it will get a bit troublesome,” mentioned Tadić, who was despatched off late within the match.

“You then want extra matches to get a rhythm into the workforce.”

Napoli has an opportunity to safe its place within the knockout phases of the Champions League when it hosts Ajax within the return leg on October 12 however will first deal with its subsequent league conflict in opposition to Cremonese on Sunday.