Manchester City: Napoli next up for City slickers
Still buzzing from the weekends result we now turn our attention to the visit of Napoli to the Etihad Stadium. For us, Champions League is now a regular thing, but it wasnt always that way. Starting our first adventure back in 2011, it was Napoli the first opposition we’d host.
It didn’t go according to plan for the home side, Aleks Kolarov saving our blushes after the visitors had gone ahead through a Edinson Cavani strike. Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Vincent Kompany are still at City from that day. Joe Hart is still on our books for now, and kept goal that day, but probably will not be back. On the other side only current Captain Marek Hamsik and vice Captain Christian Maggio remain.
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City certainly have improved somewhat since then, and will look to put the record straight Tuesday night. It will not be easy though, with both clubs coming off five wins in their last five games. Napoli will draw level on points should they get the victory, with the Italian side losing their opening game against Shakhtar.
Still in charge of Napoli, the President Aurelio De Laurentiis, is a controversial figure. After that draw at the Etihad in 2011 it was the Napoli President who branded Manchester City as ‘money wasters’. His comments came after that draw and since then City have grown, both in stature and success.
Since then, Manchester City have gone on to win the Premier League and League Cup twice a-piece. Napoli have twice won the Copa Italia since that game, but not the League.
The two clubs did have similar histories though, both winning a European title each. Napoli had Diego Maradona on their books and, currently, his number is the only one retired by the club. Gianinna Maradona, Diego’s youngest daughter was married to our very own Sergio Aguero until 2012, having a son in their time together.
One of the greatest comparisons surely comes from the late 1990’s though. Manchester City were down in the third tier of English football (and close to death as a club if some reports are to be believed). The 1997-98 season also saw Napoli relegated and headed into bankruptcy, but still attracting big crowds.
In came current President to save them, changing their name in order to be able to play football. Buying back their ‘history’ and restoring their name in May 2006 their revival was completed. That 2011 game was a good victory for both sides, just to be there. Now both clubs have kicked on and another milestone for both will be celebrated at the same venue.