Napoli vs Manchester City preview - De Jong eyes successful Italian job

Posted Tuesday, November 22, 2011 by PA

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong hopes their crucial Champions League clash at Napoli passes without a hitch on and off the field.

City can clinch a place in the knockout stage of Europe's elite competition with victory over their Group A rivals at the San Paolo Stadium.

Yet anything less would give Napoli a chance and leave City with the daunting task of having to beat Bayern Munich in their final game to guarantee progress.

The atmosphere in Naples is likely to be intimidating and the reputation of an extreme element of the home support has also led to City issuing safety advice to travelling fans.

De Jong said: "There is going to be an intensity because they are fighting for the last chance.

"Everybody knows the stories about Napoli and their fans. It is going to be an exciting game.

"Hopefully everybody can remain quiet and go there for the football game.

"We have to be focused on that. As long as the challenge is on the pitch I will be up for the task.

"Let's just do the talking on the pitch. That goes for the whole team."

Despite their domestic dominance - City now lead the Barclays Premier League by five points after 12 games - Roberto Mancini's men made a stuttering start in Europe.

They were held by Napoli in their opening game at the Etihad Stadium and a defeat in Munich left them with much to do.

Back-to-back wins over Villarreal have got the campaign back on track, lifting City to second in the group, but the Napoli trip has long looked like being the key fixture.

Holland international De Jong, 26, said: "It was always going to be a hard game, especially away and that atmosphere.

"We have to be focused and not concede. As soon as you concede it will be hard to score, but we are confident.

"I am confident to be able to play my part. It is up to the manager."

City have no injury concerns and although midfielder Yaya Toure and striker Sergio Aguero were substituted against Newcastle at the weekend, manager Roberto Mancini cited tiredness after international duty and both trained on Monday.

Midfielder Owen Hargreaves is ineligible for the competition while striker Carlos Tevez is still away in Argentina.

Napoli are also still in the hunt for a top-two finish as they lie two points behind City heading into the penultimate round of matches.

Striker Edinson Cavani told reporters: "We need three points if we want to keep going in this prestigious competition."

Cavani netted 26 goals in Serie A last season but has found it more difficult so far this term, scoring only six times in all competitions overall and just once in his last eight appearances.

However, the Uruguay international remains in optimistic mood, saying: "I'm feeling good, even if I haven't scored as many goals as I did last season.

"The team and the coach have faith in me and the amount of goals I score is not the most important thing, the most important thing is for us to win games.

"I like to take a positive attitude out onto the pitch and I work very hard in training, which enables me to play well and assist the team, even if I don't score."