Benitez: Serie A has taken a step forward

Date: 28th February 2015 at 4:42pm
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Rafael Benitez Napoli

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has praised the overall performance of Italian teams in the Europa League this season and believes it is a step forward for Italian football.

Benitez’s side were amongst five Italian sides to progress to the Round of 16 of the Europa League after their defeat of Turkish side Trabzonspor 5-0 on aggregate, and are now set to face Russian Dynamo Moscow in the next round.

“It is never easy to face a Russian team in European competitions, especially in the second half of the season,” said the former Liverpool manager to Radio Kiss Kiss.

“On paper Wolfsburg would have been a more complicated challenge, but the Russians are from an easy side.

“It’s hard to find a weak team in the Europa League, especially at this stage of the competition. Serie A has taken a step forward compared to the past.”

The Partenopei next face a trip to Turin on Sunday where they play Torino, who themselves progressed in the Europa League by defeating Spanish side Athletic Bilbao.

“The reality is that we are doing a good job in defence,” he continued. “We’ll try to do the same in Serie A.

“Also, I do not think that we are very tired. We have the right boost to do well against Torino. We need to do a good job to kill the bull like the great matadors.”

With the the clash between second place Roma and Serie A leaders Juventus taking place on Monday night, Benitez urged his club fans to not think of anything else other than their own team winning.

“I’m a very conservative person and I urge the fans to only cheer on Napoli,” he said. “If we win then we will have time to think about the gameĀ on Monday, but for now we must think only of winning against Torino.”

 

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