Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola grateful for Carlo Mazzone ahead of big Napoli clash | OneFootball

Serie A giants Napoli take on Manchester City in the Champions League on Thursday and the hype is building for the tie.

While Pep Guardiola and Gigio Donnarumma and spoke to the reporters in the pre-game press conference earlier, Sky Italia also caught up with the Manchester City manager and he was asked about Carlo Mazzone, who was Brescia manager when the Spaniard was a player at the club during his time in Serie A.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte also worked with the late veteran and when speaking of him, Guardiola said:

“I had the privilege of meeting him in life, of learning and seeing so much, of being supported in difficult times. Carletto, the Corioni family, and the entire Brescia team were there. That’s why I still love the city and both families; I’m still in touch.”

Guardiola also spoke about Conte and his teams, praising him.

“He’s very good, he leaves his mark, as he has done with every team he’s been to.”

The ex-Barcelona manager was asked about Kevin de Bruyne, who returns to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

“I’ll tell you after the match (laughs). We’ll have to be very careful, we know his decisive quality in the final third.”

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN