Benítez: "We are working towards changing this dynamic"

The Spaniard laments that the team's work is not reflected in the results

07/04/2015sscnapoli.it/rafabenitez.com

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Rafa Benítez, SSC Napoli head coach, is not at all happy with the dynamic his team is in. Especially, because he does not think it is neither just nor logical that his players' work is not reflected more positively in the results. That is why he thinks it is necessary to change his squad´s dynamic, even playing well without scoring is not a good result and he prefers to optimise resources and preserve the many things his squad does do well. With this in mind he does not want to focus too much on lamenting on the past and prefers to look forward to the most important objectives, the most immediate ones for the Neapolitan team, the ones they are still able to achieve".

Based on the above, the Spanish coach has highlighted the key aspects of the game for his squad tomorrow against Lazio in the home leg of the Italian Cup semifinal, a title which remains an objective of the season for SSC Napoli. The head coach of the ´azzurro´ team appeared in the usual pre-match press conference at the training ground´s press room in Castel Volturno declaring: "tomorrow we need to see a team with true character, with personality and the right mentality because it will be an important and complicated game. At this stage of the season it is clear that we want to win the Italian Cup for the second consecutive year".

"We have the chance of playing a second consecutive final in this Cup competition in two consecutive seasons, I think that this means we have reached a prestigious milestone", explained Benítez and then added: "the reality is that the team is doing well, I think that our last results in the league have to be analysed and valued from a wider point of view. We deserved a victory against Atalanta and also in the game against Roma. It is evident that there were some situations that have not helped us but in terms of our game and the chances we have been able to create the team has more than shown that they are at a good level. That is why we have to continue working hard to change the negative dynamic of results we are in".  The Spanish coach then defended his players' work stating: "we created many chances, many more than the other teams if we note shots on target and I am speaking of objective statistics that are available for all to see. But it is also true that we are not ruthless, even with a few of those chances we have had it would have been enough. We must improve our finishing, we have seen it, as recently as against Roma. They only had one chance which they scored whereas we got to the rival area many times and we did not take our chances".

Rafa, tomorrow SSC Napoli just needs to manage the game well and make the most of the result achieved in the away game….

"That could be enough, yes. But we are not going to risk anything. We are stepping on the pitch with the intention of winning like always. We will play against a team on top form that is going through a good run of results and knows how to attack and at the same time defend. But we have also shown that we are capable of doing great things in important moments of the season. I am relaxed and confident in our possibilities for the game tomorrow".

What has SSC Napoli been missing, especially in the last few months that they had in the recent past?


"Above all, luck. That is the truth and it is what I think. The team´s physical condition is good and the team plays well and they have shown this continuously. Perhaps on some occasions, even when we haven’t played our best game we have been able to achieve positive results but some situations in some of those games have not helped us at all. Which ones? Well, some that have been external to the game and I am not going to talk about. Some things have not helped and on other occasions we have not had good luck. I repeat, this team creates chances and we just need to score to give continuity to the run. If we score we will have more confidence including at an individual level. I am very sure of this".

Will the game tomorrow against Lazio be a psychological test for the squad?

"Each game this team plays is an opportunity to continue growing. Tomorrow we face another challenge and the players must show, as I have said already, the personality, character and right mentality. And it is precisely this I expect to see on the pitch tomorrow".

Who would you prefer to face as a hypothetical opponent for the final of the Italian Cup?

"What I am interested in fundamentally is that SSC Napoli go through, other than that I don´t care very much who will be the opponent to beat in the final. At this stage of the competition there are no easy opponents".

What can you tell us about your future and the latest reports in the Spanish media?

"Nothing has changed since the last time we spoke of this subject, absolutely nothing. And that is the pure hard truth whatever you read or hear. At the moment the road is quite clear. I will speak of the future with the Chairman, who is the person I must speak to, in the next few weeks. He knows and understands this. Because now we must focus completely on the game tomorrow. There is a lot to play for and a lot on the line for SSC Napoli. Other than that we have to think about continuing the fight for the Champions league position, we are not defeated and we have very difficult games ahead that need our concentration. And then there is the UEFA Europa League and the game against Wolfsburg. We cannot be distracted, we cannot lose not even a single bit of concentration. We can still achieve great objectives and show the value of this team, I assure you we are focused on that. We will address the future when the time comes".

To finish, can you give your opinion on the recent occurrences in the ‘Olimpico de Roma’ stadium. Some words sung by the fans offended Ciro Esposito´s mother, the Neapolitan fan murdered in the Cup final last year…

"I have always said that any form of violence, verbal or not, discrimination or insult has to be punished in an exemplary way, including with the closure of the stadium. It is the only way to achieve the order and tranquility that Italian football urgently needs and it is something that can only be positive for the fans. The sporting law must be applied in the most rigid way possible. If anyone has acted against the law, it is clear that the law must be strongly applied".