Napoli coach Spalletti evokes Maradona's memory after thumping Ajax

Ajax's Dutch defender Devyne Rensch jumps for the ball with Napoli's Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia right during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Ajax Amsterdam and SSC Napoli on October 4, 2022 in the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS AFP AMSTERDAM Diego Maradona is never far away from Napoli and after their 6 -- 1 drubbing of Ajax Amsterdam away in the Champions League on Tuesday, coach Luciano Spalletti was quick to invoke the memory of the club icon.

We played a great game. We have shown what we are capable of. Even Maradona would have been proud of us, said the Napoli coach after the runaway win that ensured a 100% record in Group A at the halfway stage of the group phase campaign.

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Napoli will have a chance to win a berth in the next year s knockout phase when they host Ajax in the return game at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium next week.

We have an excellent chance to advance in the Champions League. The quality of the opponents in the group would make that achievement even more special. Spalletti said that Ajax is a great club, whose side has scored 13 goals in three games after beating Rangers 3 -- 0 away and Liverpool 4 -- 1 at home.

Ajax took an early lead on Tuesday but looked unstoppable once Napoli equalised.

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When you concede a goal very quickly in a churning stadium, it's not easy to give an answer right away, but my players reacted great. The goal didn't affect our game in any way, the coach told a post-match news conference.

Napoli's Champions League exploits come on top of an unbeaten start to the Serie A season, where they share the lead with Atalanta.

They are after a first league title since the pair they won in 1987 and 1990 when Maradona was at his peak and Spalletti made clear that this was not far from his mind.

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It was an excellent performance. It's very nice to win like this, but now we have to go back to thinking about the next game, there are teams in Serie A that are doing well, quickly turning the focus to the weekend s clash away at Cremonese, he said.