Rudi Garcia, the manager of Napoli, is happy to face Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage, especially after Roma fired him prior to their 2016 encounter with the Merengues.
The French coach spoke during a press conference on the eve of their Serie A match at the Stadio Maradona against Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio.
In the Champions League group stage, Garcia’s Napoli were paired with Real Madrid, Braga, and Leonardo Bonucci’s Union Berlin. The first question of the day concerned the Thursday draw.
“It could have been better, but even worse,” said the Frenchman.
“Real Madrid are among the best clubs in the world, but I am even happier to meet them given what happened in 2015-16 when I qualified for the Champions League [Round of 16], but I was not given the chance to play them.”
Real Madrid vs. Napoli in the Champions League group stage is going to be fireworks 🔥
CAN’T WAIT! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/B1mJfG4Yx8
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 31, 2023
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Garcia was sacked by Roma in January 2016 and replaced by Luciano Spalletti.
The Giallorossi lost 4-0 on aggregate against the Merengues, who went on to lift the trophy against Atletico Madrid in a Final played at San Siro.
Garcia confirmed during the press conference that Napoli won’t make new signings in the last hours of the summer transfer window.
“The market is not closed, but we will sign nobody” he said.
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