Mancini expects Italians to make life hard
City can secure a place in the last 16 of the competition with victory at the San Paolo Stadium but Mancini is expecting a contest unlike any other so far this season.
Mancini’s side have swept almost all before them on the domestic front, powering to a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with 11 wins in 12 games.
Yet after a stuttering start in their maiden Champions League campaign, City must now come through a stern test in one of Italian football’s most intimidating arenas to keep their European bid on track.
Anything less than victory could hand an opportunity back to Napoli and leave City needing to beat Bayern Munich in their final Group A game to guarantee progress.
Mancini said: “The team is in good form. Every game is difficult but we are playing every three days — it is hard. Tomorrow will be so different from the other games because it is the last chance for Napoli.
“For us it’s the first time so I don’t know if it will be possible but for this reason we want to try to get into the second stage and if we want to do this we should win tomorrow.
“After that anything can happen because we are a good team, we can improve a lot, but before we should think only regarding the game tomorrow.”
David Silva has been City’s main man in their impressive start to the season and the playmaker feels the Premier League leaders are good enough to win the Champions League.
“The Champions League is where we want to be and the level we are aiming for,’’ he said.
“Now that we have arrived, it is time to enjoy ourselves, make the most of it and show everyone what we can do.
“Last season was key for us. We won our first trophy for 35 years and qualified for the Champions League, claiming a place amongst the best teams in Europe.”
He later added: “We need to improve upon what we have achieved already and keep progressing as a team.
“We must finish in the top four in the Premier League and secure Champions League football every season.
“It’s not enough just to do it once. Of course, we’ve got to do well in the Champions League and we should aim to win it. Why not? I don’t think that is out of the question.”
Mancini, meanwhile, was asked last night by local journalists tonight about the progress of his fellow Italian Mario Balotelli.
The maverick striker has been in fine goalscoring form of late and recently earned praise from Italy coach Cesare Prandelli after finding the net against Poland.
Mancini said: “He is still making great progress, he needs to keep improving.
“He needs to keep on doing what he is doing and needs continuity in what he is doing.
“We hope he can show what he can do tomorrow.”
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 said: “We need three points if we want to keep going in this prestigious competition.”
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