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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.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli128221991026
2Inter Milan1274126141225
3Fiorentina1274125101525
4Lazio1281325141125
5Atalanta BCAtalanta1281331151625
6Juventus126602171424
7AC Milan115332014618
8Bologna114611513218
9Udinese125161518-316
10Empoli12363910-115
11Torino124261518-314
12Roma123451417-313
13Parma122641618-212
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona124081727-1012
15Como122461323-1010
16CagliariCagliari122461222-1010
17Genoa12246922-1310
18Lecce12237521-169
19Monza121561015-58
20VeneziaVenezia122281121-108


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