Mazzarri: No pressure on Napoli

Posted Tuesday, February 21, 2012 by ESPN

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has downplayed suggestions the Serie A outfit should be considered favourites in the UEFA Champions League against Chelsea.

The Barclays Premier League outfit are struggling to find consistency under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

The Blues head to the Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday for the first leg of their round of 16 tie on the back of a lackluster 1-1 draw at home in the FA Cup to npower Championship team Birmingham over the weekend.

In contrast, Mazzarri's Napoli side thrashed Fiorentina 3-0 on Friday in Serie A and have forged a formidable record in Naples in European competition in recent years. According to UEFA.com, Napoli have gone 11 games undefeated at the Stadio San Paolo since returning to continental competition after a 13-year absence in 2008.

However, Mazzarri still remains coy about his side's chances against Chelsea.

"I do not agree that Napoli are favourites," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"Chelsea want to do well in the Champions League and they have players who are accustomed to matches like these.

"It will be a terrible test, in order to pass it we must do something extraordinary.

"Even if there were problems [at Chelsea], all it takes to reassemble a group is one match.

"Every player wants to do well in Europe, champions and great players can make the difference at this level."

Mazzarri will actually miss the two UEFA Champions League round of 16 matches against Chelsea after being found guilty of improper conduct during a Group A game against Villarreal in Spain on 7 December.