Napoli coach Rafael Benitez is determined to extend the gap between Inter and themselves, but distanced himself from suggestions that revenge was on his mind.
Benitez was successor to Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter side back in 2010 but, despite lifting the Club World Cup and Supercoppa Italiana, he lasted only six months in the job before former club president Massimo Moratti ended his reign.
The Spaniard’s Partenopei are four points ahead of the Nerazzurri and Benitez has the opportunity to show it was a mistake to let the 53-year-old leave San Siro.
When asked if revenge was on his mind, Benitez dodged the question and instead insisted he only wants to stretch the gap to seven points, he told reporters: “I know that if we win there is greater distance between the Nerazzurri and ourselves and it is crucial for us to be ahead. I’m not thinking about revenge.
“Should the fans applaud or jeer Mazzarri? If I were a fan, I’d just applaud Napoli. I would focus only on helping the team that I support. It will be a difficult game and if a fan goes to the San Paolo, he does it only to cheer on Napoli.”
Benitez also believes that Inter – like second-placed Roma – are at advantage because they do not have European football to contend with this season.
“Inter are a strong team, one of the most prestigious in Italy,” he continued. “Roma and Inter – as I said at the beginning of the season – have an advantage because they were the top teams to only have to play once per week [because they don’t have European football].
“Against Lazio we had the right intensity, now we must do so with Inter and Cagliari, the team can do it and we will see it on the field.”
Meanwhile, Napoli have concerns with Goran Pandev, Valon Behrami and Pepe Reina and will be evaluated before Sunday’s game.
Posted By Kevin Jasper (@KevinJasper3)
