Rafael Benítez is still making friends and influencing people, with a Champions League place virtually certain and the Coppa Italia final to comeNapoli did not make much of a splash at the footballing Oscars last month. Christian Maggio and the now-departed Edinson Cavani were each named in the team of the year at Italys annual awards bash, but otherwise the Partenopei were largely overlooked. The most prestigious gongs – best footballer and best manager – went to Juventuss Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Conte instead.But Napolis owner Aurelio De Laurentiis will not have been too upset. A movie producer in his day job, he was probably far more excited to hear his team get a tacit nod at the real Oscars, where Paolo Sorrentino, the Neapolitan director of La Grande Bellezza (or The Great Beauty, as it was to English-speaking audiences) celebrated the Best Foreign Language Film award by thanking my sources of inspiration, Federico Fellini, The Talking Heads, Martin Scorsese and Diego Armando Maradona.Most of Hollywood probably had no idea what he was on about. But, in Naples, those words were well received. At the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday, Sorrentinos affection was returned on Maradonas behalf by Napolis supporters. Honour to he who in his moment of greatest celebrity does not forget where he came from or his identity, read the banners unfurled ahead of the clubs game against, Roma. Thank you P Sorrentino.Perhaps one day the director could be persuaded to make a film about the club that he loves. There is certainly plenty of material to be found in Napolis rich history – from its foundation by English sailors back in the 1900s right through to the Maradona-inspired scudetti of 1987 and 1990. But, of course, De Laurentiis would prefer us to focus on the present. Just last month, he told us that manager Rafael Benítez deserved his own short feature.I always go down [to the changing room] at the end of the first half [of Napolis games], because I am very interested to listen to the talks Benítez gives, noted the owner. He is precise, a fury, a spectacle. I will film him one of these days.De Laurentiis is not the only one to have fallen for the Spaniards charms. Benítezs warmth and willingness to immerse himself Neapolitan culture made him an instant hit in the city, to the point that he found himself getting mobbed in the street when he stepped out with his daughter for an ice cream. Pizzas and custom nativity scenes have been created in his honour.Benítez has won over the local press, too, with his engaging press conferences. Earlier this month, he stepped out from behind his desk to walk around the room using reporters positioning to illustrate a point about breaking down packed defences. On Saturday he handed out mimosas to each female journalist, in a gesture to recognise International Womens Day.Not everyone, though, has been impressed with his results. Benítezs tenure began in style with five straight wins, including one over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and another against Milan at San Siro – the first time that Napoli had beaten the Rossoneri away from home in almost 30 years. But hopes that he could translate that fast start into a real title challenge have since collapsed. By the time they kicked off against Roma on Sunday night, Napoli were third – six points behind their opponents (who also held a game in hand) and 20 behind the league leaders Juventus.There are layers here, of course. Juve are in the midst of what might well be a record-breaking campaign, on course to finish the season with more than 100 points. Napoli finished a comfortable second last year with 78 under Benítezs predecessor Walter Mazzarri, but that sum would likely not be enough to overhaul Roma this time round.But it is also true that Benítezs team have dropped points far too cheaply at times. They drew 1-1 at home to Sassuolo just four days after the newly promoted side had been battered 7-0 by Inter. Since then Napoli have also been held by Cagliari (now 15th), Chievo (16th), Bologna (17th) and Livorno (18th). Benítezs rotation policy – switching as many as six members of his starting XI at a time – has come under scrutiny.And yet, on the biggest occasions, his team have tended to come through – and especially at home. Along with Dortmund, Napoli had also beaten Arsenal, Inter, Milan and Roma (in the Coppa Italia semi-final) at the Stadio San Paolo before this weekend. Now they needed to repeat that last result in order to preserve their hopes of catching the Giallorossi in second place. Automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage is still not a prize to be sniffed at.Roma arrived in Naples without two of their most important players. Daniele De Rossis absence through suspension was damaging, but Francesco Tottis failure to recover in time from a muscle strain far more so. With their captain in the line-up this season, Roma had averaged 2.53 points and goals per game. Without him those numbers dropped to 2 and 1.1 respectively.The picture became even bleaker for the visitors within minutes of kickoff, when Kevin Strootman collapsed to the turf. The midfielder, who had injured his right knee while playing for Holland during the week, had appeared to damage his left during a challenge with Blerim Dzemaili a few moments earlier.Strootman was replaced by Rodrigo Taddei, leaving Roma without two of their starting three midfielders. Still, though, Napoli struggled to get a handle on the game. The Giallorossi began to assert themselves. Fine saves from Pepe Reina were required to keep out efforts from Michel Bastos and Maicon either side of half-time. Gervinho had been put through on goal at least twice before then, but fluffed his lines on each occasion.Napoli, on the other hand, would take their chance when it arrived. With nine minutes left to play, Faouzi Ghoulam found room to cross on the left and swung a perfect ball over to an unmarked José Maria Callejón on the far side. The forwards header struck the juncture of post and crossbar before falling into the net. It was enough to win the game 1-0.For Benítez, it was another little moment of vindication. It was he who insisted on Callejóns signing in the first place, despite the scepticism of his teams director of sport, Riccardo Bigon. Even at a modest reported fee of €9m, many people believed that Napoli had overpaid for a player on the fringes of Real Madrids team. They scoffed when Benítez insisted the player could score 20 goals, but Callejóns against Roma was his 15th of the season in all competitions.It still might not be enough for Napoli to catch Roma, who retain a three-point advantage, a game in hand, and the head-to-head tie-breaker if the two sides finish level in the standings. But if nothing else, the victory strengthened Napolis hold on third, taking them 10 points clear of faltering Fiorentina. With a Coppa Italia final, and a Europa League last-16 tie still to come, there are opportunities yet to lift a trophy.Those might not be enough to earn Benítez recognition at next years footballing Oscars – not if Juventus maintain their current charge. But for now, at least, Naples is enjoying the show.NapoliRomaRafael BenítezSerie AEuropean club footballPaolo Bandinitheguardian © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:00:21 +0000
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