Di Lorenzo: ‘Osimhen right mindset, qualification open for Napoli’

Giovanni Di Lorenzo says Victor Osimhen ‘returned 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 Victor 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.”