Kim Min Jae has conquered Napoli.There was some concern about the departure of a pillar like Kalidou Koulibaly, but the 26-year-old South Korean defender immediately made it clear that he was on par with his predecessor, earning the love of the fans and the unconditional esteem of Luciano Spalletti.
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The coach himself, explains the former Fenerbahce player in an interview given to uefa.com, is the architect of the construction of a team that in addition to dominating the championship, lives with enthusiasm the eve of the first leg of the quarter-finals of Champions against Milan.
Kim: “Spalletti? Unique passion, never seen a coach like him”
“The decisive factor is his passion - has explained -. From this point of view, I have never seen a coach like Spalletti.
His passion easily surpasses that of any other player. The team is very aggressive, they are not afraid of anything, I think the coach's influence is decisive in this sense."
His nickname is the “monster”, but it is not the product of Neapolitan imagination as he himself explains Kim: “It started when I started playing professionally in the K-League.
I think it came about because I'm physically strong and I'm also quite fast. Plus, I really enjoy fighting on the pitch."
Kim: “We have the potential to win the Champions League”
Characteristics that make the South Korean one of the best defenders around, as well as a very important strength for a Napoli who also dreams in Europe.
“I'm focusing on how to play better and prevent the opponents from scoring - Explains Kim -. I think it's the biggest burden for us, since others say we are getting closer to winning the championship and that we have the potential to win la Champions League: there is a lot of pressure”.
“However, we are also trying to enjoy it as much as possible: how much fun we will have in the end will be determined by the results.
I think I am considered one of the best defenders in Europe only because my current team is playing really well."
You cannot choose between the two competitions, that is, between the Champions and the dream of the Scudetto that now only awaits mathematics to become reality: “Every match is very tough, in Europe we have to focus first on the quarter-finals and treat each stage like a final.”
“As for the Scudetto, I can’t imagine it, actually. Every time a player comes out, fans run to take a photo, which shows how excited this city already is.
I think he could be paralyzed by the Scudetto."
Kim: “Osimhen? Decisive, one of the best in the world”
Victor Osimhen, bomber of this Napoli, will be absent tomorrow: “He is extremely influential in the team. He is rightly considered one of the best players in the world.
He doesn't just attack, he helps in defense – Kim emphasizes -. He is a world-class player”.
Kim a Napoli he also deserved a murals: “I know it's there but I haven't seen it yet, but I've received many photos from my family and friends who have seen it. Knowing that people love me makes me feel very honored.
That's why I feel I have to work harder when I wear the Napoli shirt."
“I think I did my best in every game. I think we do our best and the atmosphere in the team is very good; we are winning with style.
This is why we are loved”he concluded.
Article published on 11 April 2023 - 12:20
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