Gattuso Urges Napoli To Be Fearless Against Messi

The last-16 first leg game will take place at the San Paolo stadium with a place in the quarterfinals up for grabs.

Messi ended a mini-goal drought by scoring four goals against Eibar in La Liga on Saturday and Napoli will need to be on guard to have any chance of stopping the six-time Ballon d’or winner.

Following a patchy start to life as Napoli manager, Gattuso has somewhat helped the side turn a corner, winning four of their last five Serie A fixtures to move up to sixth on the table.

Gattuso says he has no special plans to stop Messi but wants Napoli’s players to show no fear against the Spanish champions.

"You need to stand up to Barcelona," Gattuso said at his pre-match news conference.

"I want to see a lively team that plays without worry and with joy until the end. I want a Napoli side that are not afraid.

"We haven't played great at the San Paolo in recent weeks, except against Juventus, so I want to see a team that knows how to battle. It is fair to have respect for the opponent, but not fear.

"I read that I would prepare a cage to stop Messi. It is not so, we need the collective to play the game and remember that there is not only Messi on the field.

"Lorenzo Insigne said that Messi is a great player. He does things that I see only those who play the Play Station do, he has incredible quality.

"And he's not only great at a footballing level. He is the greatest for how he has conducted his career. He's an example for kids to follow. He never says anything inappropriate.

"You can't stop Messi, but in these moments my players have to try. We are playing against Barcelona, it is not only Messi.

"It doesn't make sense to have a player man mark Messi but we will try some things in training and then we will see."