Milan coach Stefano Pioli rued his team's failure to take a bigger lead against Napoli. Photo: AFP |
Milan had a quarter of an hour to extend their advantage
earned from Ismael Bennacer’s first-half strike when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
was sent off for two quick-fire bookings.
“It’s the only regret we have, we should have been more
clear-headed,” Pioli told reporters.
“It’s a shame but they gave a lot. It’s a good result after
a good performance, let’s hope for the next one.”
Milan now have to defend a slim lead at the Stadio Maradona
in Naples, with the prospect of a semi-final clash with local rivals Inter
after they handily won at Benfica on Tuesday.
“It will be difficult match, Napoli are a good team with a
lot of quality, the team which up to now had scored the most goals in the
Champions League,” added Pioli.
“We had a lot of difficult moments tonight… We’re expecting
Napoli to come at us and we need to put everything out there on the pitch. We
won’t get our approach wrong… no one here thinks we’ve already won.”
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said he would quit if the
fans didn’t create an intimidating atmosphere for the second leg after tensions
between fans and the owner Aurelio De Laurentiis bubbled over in recent weeks.
Protests from hardcore supporters against De Laurentiis over
what they believe are his attempts to remove them from the stadium has left
home games flatter than one would expect after such a brilliant season for such
a passionate fanbase.
Napoli’s four-goal home hammering at the hands of Milan in
the league earlier this month was played in a bizarre atmosphere, with little
chanting and even fights breaking out between home supporters.
“If it happens again for the second leg I will quit. For
what we’re contending, for the sensitivity these players have because… these
players are sensitive to what goes on around them,” said Spalletti.
“We played in an atmosphere which did not help us. It’s
inexplicable not helping the team in that moment.”