Carlo Ancelotti has offered words of comfort for Jurgen Klopp after inflicting a second defeat in as many seasons on Liverpool in the Champions League.
Goals from Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente handed the Reds a 2-0 defeat at the San Paolo.
While Klopp raged at the penalty awarded for a foul on Jose Callejon, Ancelotti insists the defeat should not be entirely bad news for Liverpool.
“I told him: ‘Don’t you worry, if you lose in Naples, then you end up winning the Champions League,” Ancelotti remarked.
“I thank Klopp for saying we can win this competition, but it’s a long way to go.
“Now we must think about progressing to the knockout stages.”
Ancelotti then revealed how he managed to stop the reigning European champions.
“The strategy was to play a complete game,” he added. “High pressure if possible, but also defending deeper if needed.
“We did everything well. We have to get used to the different moments of the game. When Liverpool were in control we did well in defending and then took our chances.
“It was a very balanced game. So we did well, because I consider them the best team in Europe.”
