NAPLES – Three points are needed to lift our heads in the Champions League and restore confidence in the league. On the eve of tomorrow night's match against Sporting Lisbon at the Maradona stadium, Juan Jesus spoke for the Azzurri and encouraged everyone: "The more points you get, the more confident you are in this new Champions League. After the defeat in Manchester, we need to bounce back: winning tomorrow is crucial, both for the European group and to put the defeat in Milan behind us."
The Brazilian center-back doesn't hide the difficulties of a busy schedule, but reiterates the strength of the group: "Playing every three days doesn't scare us; our defense and playing style remain the same. If we rewatch the Milan game, it's clear that Milan isn't dominating. A lot has changed since the sending-off, but if you look at the image of seven of us chasing Leao, we're perhaps too many, but it gives you the understanding that the mentality is to not concede and try to equalize."
"This shows that we need to continue with certain things and improve on what we've been lacking ," he added . "It's September, there's great expectation, and we want all the wins. We're the team to beat, and seeing Milan celebrate like they did at the end of the game means we've been a nuisance. We're a nuisance, and we'll continue to be."
Juan Jesus dismisses rumors of dressing room friction following De Bruyne's controversial gesture on the bench: "These things don't affect us, we're united and ready to bounce back ." Regarding Sporting Lisbon, tomorrow's opponent, he warns: "They're technically skilled and fast, and with Trincao and Suarez they know how to strike. But Portuguese teams struggle to defend: if we manage the game well, we can cause damage and take home the victory."
The article talks about Napoli and their difficulties in the league and the Champions League. Juan Jesus says there are problems, but we must remain united. Winning is important, but Milan performed poorly; we'll see how things go tomorrow.