Aurelio De Laurentiis urges Napoli to rest players against Manchester City

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has urged manager Maurizio Sarri to rest players during Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Napoli have begun the season in scintillating form with maximum points from their first eight Serie A games, leaving them two points clear at the top of the table.

The leaders face second-placed Inter Milan next weekend, and De Laurentiis suggested that his side should prioritise that match ahead of one which could be "almost impossible to win" such as their trip to the Etihad.

"City? I think that some of our players should sit out this game, with Inter only around the corner and being just as important," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Guardiola's praise? It concerned me. I wouldn't like it if Guardiola's praise resulted in my players losing focus. He's a wily old fox and he knows the quality of his squad, which is remarkable.

"For us, it could also be a game that's almost impossible to win, but we'll wait for them in Naples."

Napoli are currently three points adrift of Man City in Group F having won one and lost one of their European outings so far.