Rafa Benitez sees Napoli’s fans as behind the team, as he explains where the squad needs to improve, even if they are ‘as good as last year, if not better’.
Rafa Benitez sees Napoli’s fans as behind the team, as he explains where the squad needs to improve, even if they are ‘as good as last year, if not better’.
The Partenopei are enduring a difficult start to the season following an early exit from the Champions League, and head into their Europa League group stage campaign against Sparta Prague under further pressure following a weekend home reverse to Chievo.
That 1-0 defeat to the Flying Donkeys dominated the team’s pre-match Press conference on Wednesday and was where discussion with the Coach began.
“We have analysed the game as we always do to see the errors, we have discussed how to work on this for the future. We did what I have been doing for 28 years,” Benitez stated in response to the first question sent his way today.
“The numbers are on our side, we had 33 attempts at goal. We need to improve in the finishing phase, whilst for the last 20 minutes we need to work better.
“We do not have to win every game 5-0 by half-time, but we do have to control the game.
“The team is very well, according to the latest tests. We won the Coppa Italia at the end of last season, the team had fuel. This team is at the same level as that from last season, if not better.”
What has Benitez asked of his players?
“The analysis is the same, we have looked at what we did well and in what we need to work on to improve.
“Apart from the result, which still counts, I have seen a team that has done many good things in the first half. In the second half we needed to better manage a disadvantageous situation, we must learn to react.
“We need to work on the mentality to handle this, which I have already experienced at Valencia and Liverpool.
“In England, people wanted the Champions League and we succeeded. We must work to prepare the team in mental, physical and tactical terms.”
Attention in the exchange between Coach and journalists gradually shifted to tomorrow night’s match at the San Paolo.
“Results are important, but data from the last three months has been fantastic. Now I read with great surprise that it is the worst start in four years, but I did not read any positive news after the first win!
“We must be united, the fans have understood this and have helped the team. We are all sorry, but so many people have realised that it is important for us. Now we are focused on Sparta Prague, the best team in their championship.
“Against us they have nothing to lose, we have prepared for the game well and we will have to work together in order to win tomorrow.
“We have to play to our best in this competition, we have to win tomorrow and look forward. I have experience in this, we have to have a good group stage. After that, anything can happen.”
Benitez is speculated as set to make a number of changes to the starting XI, with respect to the side that started against Chievo.
“When I arrived at Valencia and starting making team rotations they said there that I was crazy, but I won La Liga and the Europa League.
“I can make the team rotations if we have an adequate squad, whilst the changes are only right in the case that we win. We will see what happens tomorrow.
“Our objective? We are thinking to progressing from the group stage, we cannot think about winning the Europa League because the final is still a distant event.
“I played against Sparta with Chelsea and it was two difficult games. We must move forward, but we are thinking about the game tomorrow.
“Sparta are a united team that know how to play football. They are dangerous from dead-ball situations, and we must pay close attention for the 90 minutes.”
Particular scrutiny this early season has been on the subdued performances from Raul Albiol, Jose Callejon and Gonzalo Higuain.
“After the World Cup it is always hard to start again, much depends on the squad. If it is a squad under construction, then it is much more difficult.
“Higuain played against Athletic Bilbao after 14 days of training – some players need more time to get back into shape. It is not like last season, when we had time to work together over the summer.
“The team, however, is reaching the level of the previous year and if Higuain had scored from the penalty spot, we would be here talking about something else. We need to improve our management of the game.”
Raul Albiol was brought up a little later in the conference again.
“I do not like to talk too much about the individual, I prefer to say good things of an element and say that Raul is very important to us.
“If the team does well, the task is easier for the defender. He should recover his level like the others, btu we need to talk about the group and not the individual.
“He knows that he is important for us, we must help him.”
It was put to Benitez that a win could drive away Napoli’s current crisis.
“We could definitely use it, but we must continue to work along this parth. We must grow slowly, we have to control the game without leaving spaces to be exploited by opponents on every occasion.
“We need to support the attack, we can draw a game or lose it. The problem is when we allow for counter-attacks.”
Michu may start tomorrow evening.
“I have confidence in his abilities – tomorrow I can pick up to 18 players between the pitch and the bench. I have to make decisions according to our needs. Michu is improving but he is a different player, Hamsik did well against Chievo.
“Duvan Zapata did well in the final stages but it is not easy to decide who to play from the beginning. I will introduce new faces over time, but I have faith.
“And David Lopez? He is working very well, to insert him now though may be a risk. We have time to introduce him – he and Michu are working to their best.”