In the 201-2012 season,Napoli ended in fifth place in the Serie A,but managed to defeat unbeaten champions Juventus in the Stadio Olimpico to win the Coppa Italia for the fourth time in the club's history, 25 years after their last cup win. A successful season in the Champions League, its first participation in the European Cup meant they are back to be counted amongst the elites of Italian football scenery.
This achievement could not have been mentioned without the talismanic forward Edison Cavani spearheading an attacking trio of Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi who departed a year earlier to the "money bags" PSG. But after losing another heavy weight during the closed transfer window,it was to wait and see the magic of being counted this term.
Some understandably had doubts when Edinson Cavani was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro warned “replacing him will not be easy. I personally believed they should not have let him go. This is because they will lose much of their strength.” A month into the new season however, and Napoli arguably look stronger without him.
Three wins from three in Serie A and victory in their Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund and it has been a perfect start to life post-Cavani. Speaking after his side’s win against the Germans, new boss Rafael Benitez was understandably delighted while trying to temper rising expectations.
Cavani may have gone, but the goals have continued to flow. In their four games played so far Napoli have netted 11 times already. Marek Hamsik alone has scored four of those. New arrivals Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Maria Callejon – both hitting the ground running following their arrival from Real Madrid – have accounted for five. Local favourite Lorenzo Insigne has been repaying the faith Benitez has shown in him with some promising displays and, of course, with his superb winner against Dortmund.
In the past, Benitez’s sides have always been known for being rather defensive-minded, but this does not appear to be the case with Napoli. While the former Liverpool boss has introduced his favoured 4-2-3-1 system, he has not abandoned the entertaining football that characterised the Walter Mazzarri years and it is paying off. Napoli lead Serie A in goals scored, have the highest average possession and have recorded the most shots per game. It is all very ‘un-Benitez’ like, but there is a good reason for this.
If Napoli have a weakness, it is in defence. In recognising this, Benitez seems to have decided to play to the team’s strengths and it’s working rather well. There is more to come, as he has warned “I am sure in one or two months we will be even better.” No doubt. This is, after all, a side that experienced a number of changes in personnel over the summer, so the players and Coach are still getting to know each other. This makes their victory over Dortmund – a side that has been together for years – all the more remarkable.
Yet at the same time it should not be all that surprising that Benitez has got his team performing at such a high level so early on his tenure. Indeed, many of his greatest successes have come early on during his reign. In his first season with Valencia back in 2001-02, he won La Liga. When he moved to Liverpool in 2004, he won the Champions League 10 months later. Even at Inter, where he was regarded as a failure and lasted only six months, he still managed to collect two titles – the Italian Super Cup and the World Club Cup. It was the same story last season at Chelsea. He was only there for eight months, but he left with a Europa League crown to his name.
Benitez has won titles at every one of his last four clubs, though many of them have come in his first season in charge. His past successes are the reason why Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis hailed his arrival as “the best signing of the summer.” The hope is that he can continue delivering titles and the early signs are certainly encouraging.
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