Mazzari could curb forward thinking

Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri believes his side may have to sacrifice some of their attacking style to make the Europa League’s last 16.

Spurred on by the performances of strikers Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi and attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik, Napoli have risen to second on the Serie A table and within three points of league leaders AC Milan.

But Mazzarri believes different opposition – such as Europa League round of 32 opponent Villarreal – may require a different approach.

Napoli host the La Liga club in the first leg on Thursday before travelling to Spain on February 24.

“The more we go on in the competition the more we have to deal with new kind of pressures for us,” Mazzarri said.

“Obviously this will be a match over two legs so we need to be mature and understand that if, for example, we don’t manage playing our way at certain times in the game we need to be rational and limit the damage.”

“We shouldn’t risk something in order to play our way at any cost, only attacking. We need to do both, in the right way and being able to interpret the game itself.”

“They’re a typical Spanish team, they like ball possession and playing in a way that is somehow similar to my idea of football.”

With defender Paolo Cannavaro to miss through suspension, Edmilson Cribari will get another chance to push his claims in the first team.

Giuseppe Mascara and Jose Sosa will vie for one spot in the starting XI, but Mazzarri left no doubt as to who would lead the line against the Spanish side.

“Lavezzi should be himself and have no worries at all,” he said.

“Tomorrow he will be playing as usual and must do what he did in Rome. The judgement on Lavezzi is really wrong so I hope justice will be served on Friday, according to the current rules. Cavani is a player who touches three balls and scores twice so – even only from a psychological point of view for the rest of the team – he needs to play. He is our most important scorer.”