With a great deal of respect for both Pep Guardiola and Paolo Maldini, Luciano Spalletti wants to get along with both.
In an effort to mend fences with both Pep Guardiola and Paolo Maldini, Luciano Spalletti wants them to know that he is among their biggest supporters.
Speaking before his team's Champions League quarterfinal matchup against Milan, Spalletti emphasized that his recent altercation with Rossoneri sporting director Maldini was in no way an indication of his respect for the renowned former defender.
He also emphasized that despite recent back-and-forth in the media, he has no issues with Guardiola.
When the Champions League quarterfinal line-up took shape, Manchester City head coach Guardiola lauded Napoli as Europe's top team, but Spalletti brushed such praise aside.
The Napoli manager described it as a "game to build us up, so they can knock us down," but he insisted on Tuesday that he also took it as a compliment.
That came after Guardiola responded to Spalletti's comments on Monday by saying: "Napoli is a topic I don't want to bring up because the manager will be annoyed with me. Italy is quite sensitive."
Spalletti tried to make the story more subdued this time.
Guardiola taught me a lot, said Spalletti. "Guardiola has taught us all something. For me, Guardiola is comparable to all the fantastic managers, including Jurgen Klopp and Roberto De Zerbi.
"I frequently consider Guardiola, Klopp, and De Zerbi as football managers. I apologize if Guardiola misinterpreted my expression because I'm genuinely pleased when a manager like him praises Napoli.
It would take me a long time to understand how great Guardiola's former Barcelona was.
Before the second half of Napoli's shocking 4-0 home loss to Milan in Serie A, television cameras caught Spalletti and Maldini arguing in the tunnel.
Soon after the incident, he was quoted as calling Maldini's actions "disrespectful."
Spalletti claimed that the events on April 2 may be classified as "simply normal conversation" or a "little fight".
The 64-year-old manager of Napoli even admitted that Maldini's jersey is framed on his wall at home and that he is "absolutely Cool with him."
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