Mazzarri wants more from Napoli

Walter Mazzarri has called for greater consistency from Napoli as they look to build on the achievement of Champions League qualification.

Napoli exceeded expectations to finish third in Serie A last season, and have impressed in Europe’s elite competition this season, qualifying for the knockout stages ahead of English Premier League leaders Manchester City.

But they have struggled to replicate their strong league form from last term, and sit seventh on the table, eight points back from the Champions League qualification places.

Nevertheless, Napoli have an opportunity to make up ground on the front-runners when they face Bologna at home on Monday.

“We’ve been a team that have been growing in strength over the last two years, and that’s been a beautiful thing,” Mazzarri said.

“A lot now depends on whether we can sustain this growth and remain focused on our own game.”

“In this respect we have a lot to prove still, on days for example where we aren’t at our best or when we’re playing teams that on paper are worse than us.”

“When we are at our best, as we’ve seen in the Champions League and certain times in the championship, we’ve put all the teams we’ve played into at least a little bit of difficulty, at least for part of the game.”

“So all we need to do, as I said before, is concentrate on our game and what we have to do, which is to win tomorrow at Bologna.”

Napoli are unbeaten from their past three matches in all competitions, including a hefty 6-1 thrashing of Genoa prior to the mid-season break.

They host a Bologna team struggling at the wrong end of the table in Monday’s clash at the Stadio San Paolo, and Mazzarri wants his players to make a faster start than in their past two matches.

“I have to choose the team that I think is most appropriate for the match,” he said.

“It will need to be a team that is aggressive and decisive, that restricts our opponents and plays its own football as best as possible.”

“In the last two games, including the match against Palermo, we were much better in the second half than the first half.”

“I wasn’t happy about the first half in either match, we gave them too many opportunities in both the Palermo match and then against Cesena in the cup.”