Nicklas Bendtner

Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who has returned to Italian Serie A from Bayern Munich, says that the club will be much more competitive in this campaign.

Reina spent one season at Napoli when Rafael Benitez was the manager of the club. His great relationship with Benitez was the reason behind Reina moving to Napoli on a loan deal from Liverpool. However, not many expected him to secure a move to Bayern Munich on a permanent basis once he decided to leave the Merseyside club. This was due to the presence of Manuel Neuer, who is widely thought of as the best goalkeeper in the world right now.

As expected, Reina barely featured for the German outfit and has now returned to Napoli on yet another loan spell. This time around, he has managed to capture the pulse of club straightaway. After a few years of challenging for the league title and also regularly featuring in the Champions League, it appears that Napoli are slipping from their heights. The sale of players like Edinson Cavani has hurt them immensely. Last season, the club finished in a disappointing fifth spot and will not be playing in the Champions League as a result of it. Reina, though, is confident of glory days returning to Stadio San Paolo.

“We have so much confidence in the team.After the work done with [Coach Maurizio] Sarri in the pre-season training camp we’re fired-up and ready to make our debut in this League.It will take time to be at our best, we have some new faces, but this is a strong squad which is aiming high. It will be a competitive Napoli. All we can promise is a lot of passion and determination, that every Napoli player will give 100 per cent,” said the goalkeeper ahead of the new season.