Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the captain of Milan's upcoming European opponent, was interviewed by La Repubblica. Here are the words of the Napoli fullback.
On the Champions League quarter-finals:
"We are no longer hiding, even though the level of competition is very high. We are deservedly among the best 8 teams in Europe and we have written a small page in the history of our club, proving to ourselves and our opponents that we are strong. Now we face three tough challenges against Milan in 17 days, including the one on April 2 in the league. I don't make predictions, only that we are sorry to have drawn an Italian team, we would have gladly avoided such a derby."
On the improvement of Italian football:
"It's good like this. For Italian football, it's an important signal of recovery and even Inter will have its chance against Benfica, while we will play the semifinal against Milan. But it doesn't end here: Juventus, Roma, and Fiorentina are still in the running in the other cups. Our movement is raising its head and it's a source of pride for everyone: there are strong teams in Serie A."
On the dominated championship:
"From the outside it may seem so, but we know that the level of Serie A is very high. Each game must be faced to the maximum and presents difficulties. It's Napoli that is doing something incredible in the league: a strong team and a super group, it's not a demerit of the others, so far we have maintained an extraordinary pace."
European perspective for the Azzurri, Di Lorenzo said:
"The perception of our value has changed, in Italy and abroad: now everyone says that Napoli is strong, we have known this for a while."
