MX23RW : Sunday, May 12 23:30:26| >> :120:44935:44935:
[monks data]
Napoli logo
Serie A
Nov 23, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Parma logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Cassano (81')

Rafael Benitez: 'Napoli must work harder'

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez admits that his side were below par and deserved to be punished by Parma in last night's shock Serie A defeat.

Napoli manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that the international break offers no excuse for their 1-0 defeat at home to Parma, asking his players to work harder in search of the consistency required to fight for the Scudetto.

The Azzurri lost ground on their Serie A title rivals with a loss last night, caught cold by a late strike from Antonio Cassano.

Benitez believes that Napoli cannot afford to be below their best against any side in Serie A, while eyeing a swift improvement ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

He told Sky Sport Italia: "I am disappointed, because we did not play to our usual level. It's clear that if we don't play well and our opponents do, then we will struggle.

"We lost the ball too easily, allowed too much space on the counter and wasted a few opportunities going forward with Gonzalo Higuain and Goran Pandev.

"We have to work harder, but also work well. Naturally when there are two games per week, we don't have much time, but must analyse what didn't work and try to improve."

Napoli currently sit four points behind Serie A leaders Roma following their third defeat of the season, with the Giallorossi still to play this weekend.

ID:119958: cacheID:119958:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2652:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dortmund's head coach Jurgen Klopp gives interviews prior to the Telekom Cup football match Borussia Moenchengladbach vs Borussia Dortmund in the German city of Moenchengladbach on July 20, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs. Napoli
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CInter Milan36295286196792
2AC Milan36228672432974
3Bologna361813551272467
4Juventus361813549282167
5Atalanta BCAtalanta351961065392663
6Roma361791063441960
7Lazio361851347371059
8Napoli361312115346751
9Fiorentina341481251391250
10Torino361214103332150
11Genoa361113124344-146
12Monza351112123846-845
13Lecce35813143250-1837
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona36810183448-1434
15CagliariCagliari36712173865-2733
16FrosinoneFrosinone36711184368-2532
17Empoli3688202652-2632
18Udinese35418133352-1930
19SassuoloSassuolo3678214272-3029
RSalernitana36210242876-4816


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!