Rafa Benitez believes that Napoli will be ready to take advantage of any slip-up Roma have in their race for second place in Serie A.
After European disappointment in midweek, the Partenopei return focus to their chase for automatic qualification to the Champions League in Week 29 when they host Fiorentina on Sunday evening.
Rafa Benitez believes that Napoli will be ready to take advantage of any slip-up Roma have in their race for second place in Serie A.
After European disappointment in midweek, the Partenopei return focus to their chase for automatic qualification to the Champions League in Week 29 when they host Fiorentina on Sunday evening.
Ahead of then playing Catania and Juventus in the following seven days, Coach Rafa Benitez has outlined that he sees his team as ready to challenge Roma until the end for second spot.
“I believe that we can take second place, so we approach every game to win and take the three points,” Benitez has told reporters in his Press conference today.
“Is this a decisive week? I believe that after these three games there will remain seven for which we can prepare a little better, it will be easier to manage the squad.
“The defence must be a little better, we lack a little in attack in finishing our moves and we must find it.
“Our chances of second place? I don’t know, it is also dependent on Roma, and we must play our part and win. We will be prepared if they make a mistake.
“Precedents? With Valencia we were seven points behind Real Madrid, then we won the League…
“Is it better to chase or be chased? It depends on the team, I prefer to stay ahead, but currently we are not, and we have to look to Roma and win.”
Napoli head into this fixture on the back of Europa League elimination in midweek to Porto. It was a game that saw the Vesuviani miss a number of chances in front of goal.
“Certainly we have not had a lot of time. After the game against Porto I congratulated the team for the effort, for the performance.
“Now we need to focus on Fiorentina, who come into this from a similar situation.
“It will be the same for Vincenzo Montella, I think there may be a drop psychologically after the elimination, but to move on in our minds should prove a confirmation of our growth.
“We know that we need to improve in front of goal, but I believe that the team will be ready for tomorrow.
“We have done great in the Champions League. The situation on the missed chances is not easy to fix, these are fast situations, with players moved and creating space, but that is something that we did.
“Fiorentina are a quality team that are playing well, with attacking football and it is not easy to play against them because they work and also have goals in them and important players.
“Tomorrow, both teams will want to win, they have a style with the ball, to attack, us the same, and we will see tomorrow who takes most control of the ball.”
Benitez was asked if he sees Napoli as a team with a winning mentality.
“A team that wants to focus on three fronts should always be at a high level, in the League we have not been.
“This year we signed players who have won a lot, but to have the opportunity, you cannot make the mistakes in the games that we have gone wrong in during this season.
“Do we have a psychological issue? I do not think so. If there was this issue, we would not be third in the League.
“With Marseille we conceded a goal but the reaction was fantastic, with Arsenal we tried until the end. In Turin we showed character even in difficulty, then we won in the end.”