Napoli Coach Rafael Benitez has defended his rotation policy, after his side suffered two defeats in their opening three Serie A games.
Benitez made five changes to the Napoli side which defeated Sparta Prague for the 1-0 loss to Udinese on Sunday.
However, in his pre-match Press conference ahead of the game with Palermo, the Spaniard stood by the decision.
“Rotation? What is that? Resting one player? Or four? Or five? Or three? Tell me what rotation is,” Benitez responded to reporters today.
Napoli Coach Rafael Benitez has defended his rotation policy, after his side suffered two defeats in their opening three Serie A games.
Benitez made five changes to the Napoli side which defeated Sparta Prague for the 1-0 loss to Udinese on Sunday.
However, in his pre-match Press conference ahead of the game with Palermo, the Spaniard stood by the decision.
“Rotation? What is that? Resting one player? Or four? Or five? Or three? Tell me what rotation is,” Benitez responded to reporters today.
“The changes are because we are playing a game every three days. Even changing one player is, by definition, rotation. We need to rotate players when we’re playing so often.
“After a second or third match, there’s a loss of physical intensity, and we want our players to be at 100 per cent physically.”
Benitez also hit out at the media, believing reports had been too concerned with the fact he had made changes ahead of the Udinese game.
“Rotation is overanalysed. If we win? Everything’s great. The squad is 14, 18 or 22 players. Changes are necessary to avoid injuries and to always have a team always in shape.
“But if we lose? It’s the Coach’s fault. We have to look at things over the course of a season, not just one game in isolation.”
Benitez was then asked if Napoli’s poor start to the season was putting a strain on himself and the squad.
“We must be calm, and at the same time we must be 100 per cent focussed on winning.
“I must convey calm [to the players], and I will make changes if I have to. If we lose? It’s my fault, no problem. If we win? It’s about everyone. That’s football. No problem.”