Carlo Ancelotti is a savvy European operator with decades of experience at Champions League level as a manager and before that as a player in the old European Cup.
And tonight he guided his Napoli team to a 1-0 win over Liverpool in Italy thanks to Lorenzo Insigne's late, late goal.
Given how good a team Napoli are and have been over recent seasons, Kenny Cunningham does not feel it's a disastrous result for Liverpool and was surprised by some of the pre-match assessments of Napoli.
"There's no shame in going to Napoli and losing 1-0"
Kenny Cunningham talks Liverpool defeat and his surprise by some of the pre-match assessments of the likes of Steve McManaman #LFC #NAPLIV@BoyleSports For Exclusive Enhanced Odds & Offers, Visit https://t.co/ErWC5iU9lZ pic.twitter.com/K9NYMWbgS2
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) October 3, 2018
"It's not a huge surprise. Scoring so late obviously stings [for Liverpool] without a doubt," said the former Ireland defender on the Football Show at full time.
"But that's not a huge surprise. I actually thought listening to Steve McMananman and Michael Owen - McManaman in particular really talked down Napoli. I wouldn't agree with him there at all.
'Yes, Jorginho's come out of that central midfield area but the rest of the team is pretty much the same and they're a well-drilled outfit and great individual players like Lorenzo Insigne. Quality little footballer, clever."
He added that there's "no shame in going to Napoli and losing 1-0."
