Jose Callejon has compared Italian football to the Spanish game, and believes it’s harder to score in Serie A.
Jose Callejon has compared Italian football to the Spanish game, and believes it’s harder to score in Serie A.
Callejon is currently joint-top scorer in Serie A alongside Carlos Tevez having notched eight goals in 11 appearances for the Partenopei so far this term.
Whilst the Spaniard has managed 23 goals in just 47 League games since joining from Real Madrid last summer, he believes goals are harder to come by on the peninsula.
“I’ve worked hard to be the top scorer in Serie A,” Callejon told El Pais.
“I consider myself a midfielder who scores goals, one that plays in a very direct way. A striker will have more chance of finishing as top scorer, but I want to do even better.
“Football in Italy is more difficult.
“Tactically, the defences are well organised and it’s harder to find gaps.
“There isn’t an open style of football the way there is in Spain, but [Napoli Coach Rafa] Benitez is not defensive and prefers a style of play built on attack and retaining possession.
“We are one of the most attacking teams in Italy.”
Callejon made his debut for the Spanish national team on Saturday, replacing Santi Cazorla in La Roja’s 3-0 win over Belarus, and the former Real Madrid man credits Jose Mourinho and Benitez for his improvement.
“I had a great relationship with Mourinho,” said Callejon of the man he worked under at Real.
“He’s a winner, he gave me confidence and he was one of the first to congratulate me when I got the call-up.
“I train and I work my hardest every day, and I play every game as though it were my last, for me, for my teammates and for the fans.
“In the last eight years Spain have made world footballing history, it’s a difficult setup to break into.
“But hard work always pays off.
“I used to be a player who always had the ball glued to his foot, but with time I’m improving my coordination and scoring more.
“Benitez asked me to be more selfish, and also wants me to improve my left foot.”