Benítez: "The season has been positive so far and we are getting better"

The Spanish coach speaks to Radio Kiss Kiss

24/01/2015sscnapoli.it/rafabenitez.com

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For Rafa Benítez, SSC Napoli head coach, the first half of the season has been positive, his team is on a good run and is improving. He spoke of this in an interview on Radio Kiss Kiss today, just two days before the start of the second half of the Italian Serie A where they will face Genoa at the San Paolo stadium. The Spanish coach has highlighted his team´s determination to fight for all the competitions they are currently playing, still remembering that great victory in the Italian Super Cup in Doha back in December. He stated: "the first half of the season has been positive, it has to be positive with all the factors considered and judging by what I can see in each training session and game, I believe we can perform even better in the coming months. I am optimistic in this sense".

Rafa, what conclusions have you been able to make from the victory on Thursday against Udinese?

"Obviously nobody likes to suffer that much to win a game, but at the end of the day, if we analyse things from another perspective, we have also shown the necessary character and personality to win at penalties after having played 120 minutes. The team did everything necessary to win the game and I think it was a well deserved victory, both because of the way we played and the large number of chances we enjoyed. We were missing precision and pace, that is true but the victory was completely legitimate if we look at the game as a whole".

Are you satisfied with the performance and physical fitness of the two recent arrivals, Strinic and Gabbiadini?

"In my opinion, they both are adapting perfectly. They are intelligent players that are quickly understanding the workings of this squad. But I think that the whole squad is very well, with optimum fitness, and I can assure you that this is a comforting fact and will be very helpful for the rest of this season and our objectives".

SSC Napoli are about to begin the second half of the season this coming Monday, against Genoa. What is your opinion on the first half the “azzurro” season?


"As I said before, I think in general it has been very positive and now we can perform even better. We are fighting in all possible fronts and playing at a good level. In football you can never say never, you have continue your route step by step, we will see where it takes us in a few months. The squad has improved, internal competitiveness has grown and it is positive for the growth of the club".

The Chairman De Laurentis made some declarations yesterday on the future of SSC Napoli and placed your contract renewal as top priority….

"I speak to the Chairman and also to the Sporting Director Riccardo Bigon, everyday. We have continuous dialogue to continue moving forward and improving the club, the squad, the infrastructure.....We are focused on this season, giving our maximum and I sincerely believe that we can achieve great goals, both in Italy and in Europe. Besides, as the Chairman De Laurentis said yesterday, we will meet in the next few months to talk about the future project. This is all I have to say on this point and at the same time I want to reaffirm that we must place all of our energies on the most immediate game, the next one. That´s all".

Has the winter transfer window closed for SSC Napoli?


"We have managed to get ahead of our competitors and achieve our objectives, these were Strinic and Gabbiadini. At the moment we are observing how the transfer window evolves and we will wait to see if any interesting opportunities arise. But I have to say we fine as we are".

How far can SSC Napoli go in the league? Would you be happy with third place or do you have higher objectives?

"Anyone who knows me knows that I always aspire to the maximum. I am the first who wants to get as high as possible, the key is to work as hard as we can, always looking for a way to improve. If we can show all of our potential, I am convinced that we can be more competitive on any pitch. When we materialise what we have in mind, what we have worked on during the week, this team can beat any rival. We always have to aspire to the highest limits, but without the pressure of placing absolute objectives on ourselves, thinking only from game to game. Now we have to focus on the game against Genoa, we are very focused and thinking only about our game on Monday in the San Paolo stadium. Later, we will see".