Napoli boss remains confident of Europa League comeback against Arsenal

Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident that his team can make a comeback against Arsenal after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final. The Naples outfit were outclassed by the Gunners for vast parts of the game at the Emirates Stadium and they were eventually lucky to not concede more than two goals.

Speaking after the game, Ancelotti admitted that his team were worried and frightened at the beginning of the tie and that cost them dearly in the form of two goals. However, he was impressed with the fightback in the second half and remains confident that the deficit can be overturned next week at the Stadio San Paolo, he said: “We were taken by surprise. We were worried and frightened. In the second half, we made fewer mistakes and created a couple of chances, scoring would have made the comeback less difficult for the return. It's difficult, but not impossible, we remain confident.”

“Napoli were outclassed during the entirety of the opening half by the Gunners and they came up with a much better performance after the break with Arek Milik and Lorenzo Insigne missed genuine chances of finding the scoresheet. The same was the “case for the Gunners with Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Unai Emery’s side should be pleased after keeping a clean sheet.

Ancelotti’s team are scheduled to face bottom side Chievo in the Serie A at the weekend and the manager may decide to rest several regulars for the league clash. On the contrary, Arsenal can’t afford to do so, given they are currently in a must-win situation in order to keep up with the teams in the top four race. The Gunners are scheduled to face Watford on the road on Monday night. They have won just one away league game since the turn of the year.