Manna: ‘Napoli knew Badiashile was a risk, De Bruyne in more congenial role’
VERONA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 28: Giovanni Manna of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Napoli director Giovanni Manna hints Kevin De Bruyne is ‘playing in a position that is historically more congenial’ against FC Porto, while they ‘knew Benoit Badiashile was a risk’ from Chelsea.
It kicks off at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
The Partenopei have 10 players out of action between injury and ineligibility, leaving only three senior outfield players on the bench.
De Bruyne had also been a major doubt after limping off with an ankle sprain during the 2-0 Serie A defeat to Juventus on Sunday, but he is in the starting XI in what appears to be a more advanced role behind lone striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Napoli deal with injury crisis
“Kevin is a top player, he has proved he can play anywhere. Tonight he is perhaps in a position that is historically more congenial, but he proved that he can do well as a playmaker in Serie A and the Champions League too,” replied Manna on Sky Sport Italia.
“Tonight’s formation is based on how many players are actually available, and we had to choose from there.”
De Bruyne had not disguised his irritation at being dropped into a deep playmaker role in recent weeks by coach Max Allegri, so this feels like a victory for the former Manchester City man.
“The Champions League is still long, we are in a delicate moment of the season, but it’s important to put in a strong performance and give our all.”
Napoli have had a series of injuries over the last three years, something that Antonio Conte was already complaining about and now carried on into Allegri’s reign.
“We’ve had a lot of traumatic injuries too, like Di Lorenzo last year and Lobotka this time,” insisted Manna.
“We knew that there were players like Badiashile who were a risk due to past problems, Buongiorno we were aware of, Anguissa had trouble last season and is recovering, David Neres had a relapse, these things can happen.
“It’s not an alibi, we are here and will play our game.”
The January transfer window could be an opportunity to bring in reinforcements, especially for their strikers, where Hojlund has been used practically non-stop.
“The only place where we’re lacking is in attack, as today we’ve got two strikers, plus Giovane and Vergara who can play there. Alisson Santos is someone we never really had this season, but he doesn’t have a long history of injuries, so it was a new development.”
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