Manna: ‘Napoli respect Bologna, but Lucca has to step up a gear’

Napoli director Giovanni Manna is looking forward to ‘an historic evening’ and has the utmost respect for Bologna, but again warns Lorenzo Lucca ‘it depends on him.’

It kicks off at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh at 19.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The winner will be decided after 90 minutes or go directly to a penalty shoot-out, so there is no extra time.

Even though the EA Sports FC Supercup is in the Final Four format, the trophy is between the traditional contenders, namely Scudetto holders Napoli and Coppa Italia winners Bologna.

The only time Napoli won both the Scudetto and the Supercoppa Italiana in the same season was 1990.

“It could become an historic evening, but we’ve got to play first. We are up against a team that deserves to be here, having won the Coppa Italia last season and beaten Inter in the semi-final,” Manna told Sport Mediaset.

“Having the Coppa Italia and Scudetto winners face off represents the best of what we saw in Italian football last season.”

Napoli are still missing Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour and Alex Meret, so while Romelu Lukaku is on the bench.

Considering the form of Rasmus Hojlund and Lorenzo Lucca, plus the return of Lukaku, will the ex-Udinese striker remain or be sold in January?

“Rasmus had done well straight away, but playing every three days when trying to settle into a new environment isn’t easy, and we are very happy to have him with us,” noted Manna.

“At this moment, talk of January is premature. Romelu needs a while to get back into shape after a very serious muscular injury, so we mustn’t rush his process.

“I said many times, Lorenzo is a strong player who we wanted, who has specific characteristics, but he needs to step up a gear. In order to play for this Napoli side, he has to push hard not just in the match situation, but throughout the week.

“It is important that he accelerates that process. He is with us for now, but the rest depends a great deal on him.”

When these sides met in Serie A on November 9, Bologna ran out 2-0 winners at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

“That was a match that left its mark and was a bit of a crossroads for our campaign,” continued Manna.

“It made us reflect a great deal, take responsibility, and we are more united than ever after that.”