Benítez: "The next stage is achieved playing game to game"

The Spaniard highlights the difficulty of playing on a synthetic pitch

22/10/2014sscnapoli.it/rafabenitez.com

Imagen
Rafa Benítez, SSC Napoli head coach, has once again spoken of ambition, his intent to win, the improvement of his team and the possible traps that the Swiss stadium could have, above all the synthetic pitch. He made these declarations in the pre-match press conference prior to the game tomorrow against Young Boys in the 'Stade de Suisse', in the third round of the UEFA Europa League group stages.

The Spanish coach summarised the team ́s start to the season highlighting the areas which his team has been improving on little by little and focused on the most immediate game, he warned: "Young Boys is a good team, playing at home in their stadium makes them more dangerous, and tomorrow we must remain very focused and concentrated on the pitch, even more so on a synthetic pitch, from the very first minute of the game. Attention and concentration are key if we want to aspire to a positive result".

"We have progressed a great deal up until now, it ́s clear to anyone who has followed our team from the beginning. And I am absolutely convinced that we could have gained more points in the table had football been fairer with us" continued the head coach of the azzurro team adding: "I honestly think we deserve to be in a higher position in the Serie A league table, that is why I continue to believe that we are on the right path to improvement, day by day. Perhaps there are a couple of aspects that we have to improve. Above all fundamental aspects that we have already spoken of, like attention and determination especially in the offensive phase, in attack. Despite this, we know perfectly well that we must persevere, it is what we have to do, and we know what areas we must improve and we are working very hard every day towards that".

"At half time in the game last weekend at the San Siro stadium we were talking about how we should face what was left of the game" said the Spanish coach and later added: "in the second half, we put those ideas into practice on the pitch and we got ahead on the scoreboard twice, against a rival like Inter Milan at their home ground. That is how we should face the game tomorrow from start to finish".

Benítez also replied to some questions put to him by the media in the press room at the 'Stade de Suisse' in Berna as follows:

Are Hamsik and Higuain ́s goal scoring abilities included amongst the things that Napoli has to improve?

"For me, the really important thing is the team not the individual. And I have already said on many occasions. Marek (Hamsik) and Gonzalo (Higuain) are both real champions and I think that it is perfectly understandable by all in the football world that sometimes players may have periods where they will score more or less goals. We have complete confidence in the quality of both players and we believe they can contribute a lot this season. What counts here is the commitment and participation of the footballer, playing always to their maximum ability every time and what they feel inside, this is fundamental for the objectives and reality of the whole group".

Will there be rotations for this game?

"Considering the number of games we have so close together, and the calendar is there for all to see should anyone have any doubt about that, I think we have no other option. That said, I can assure that the players that walk onto the pitch with the Naples shirt will be the ones that can give one hundred per cent throughout the whole game, facing all the challenges that may arise. For me, and you all already know this because you have heard me say it many times, the key to a possible victory is the commitment and participation of the whole squad, and not just one or two elements. We will continue with this same idea until the end of the season".

Tomorrow you will play the game on a synthetic pitch. Are you prepared for this?

"Gokan (Inler) has already spoken to us about some of the special characteristics of this kind of pitch. It is true that it can be an advantage for the local team, in this case Young Boys. They are used to it, that is clear, but we know that we have to impose our game and control the game despite the pitch. Although on the other hand we must not forget that they beat Slovan Bratislava 5-0 on this pitch, which shows this a difficult pitch".

Will you try to win and seal the pass to the knockout stages?

"I never speak of victory out of respect for my adversary. We all play to win, without a doubt, what I do know for sure is that we want to play a good game. We will get through the classification from game to game, which is how we do it, not by calculating more or less in the long term. Tomorrow we have to play with a lot of attention and maximum concentration, that ́s the only way we can get close to achieving the three points".

Yesterday you met Antonio Conte, the Italian national team coach in the SSC Napoli training ground in Castel Volturno. What did you talk about?

"Basically we were talking about the players in our squad that could be selected to play for Italy. We spoke of Insigne, Maggio and Jorginho. At the same time we exchanged technical opinions. It was a very productive meeting between two coaches talking football".

Tomorrow we will see a Naples guided by Inler in midfield....

"What I can very clearly say is that Gokhan (Inler) sets a real example to his colleagues, he is very professional and very responsible, and he is also one of our captains. He is a player of a very high level".