Young Boys vs Napoli preview - Benitez ready for Young Boys test - 7M sport

Young Boys vs Napoli preview - Benitez ready for Young Boys test



Posted Thursday, October 23, 2014 by PA

Rafael Benitez is confident his Napoli side can overcome the distraction of a fiercely partisan crowd at the Stade de Suisse and secure a vital Europa League victory over Young Boys.

The Swiss outfit stand between Benitez's men and their third straight win in Group I - an outcome that would go a long way towards propelling the Italians towards the knockout stages.

Napoli are certainly a big draw for the people of Bern, whose favourite team is coached by Swiss-Italian Uli Forte, and so Benitez has warned his players against allowing themselves to be swept up by the big occasion.

"We have a lot of respect for Young Boys," the Spaniard told a pre-match press conference. "They're dangerous at home but we know what quality we can bring to the table, so we can win this.

"We still need quite a few points but we're on the right track. Our intensity needs to improve and we have to be more ruthless at certain times.

"It's important that we give our all, and it's especially important to give those who haven't played much a chance to get out on the pitch."

Midfielder Gokhan Inler - born in Olten, about an hour from Bern - echoed his coach's assessment of what the Azzurri can expect on Thursday night.

He said: "Young Boys are an experienced team and this is a special match for me because I was born nearby.

"We're expecting a fearsome atmosphere, they've sold over 20,000 tickets and they have an Italian coach who will get them fired up.

"The synthetic pitch could give Young Boys an advantage, so we'll need to focus on technique more than what we might do on grass, but we are ready to go regardless."

Young Boys boss Forte is a self-confessed Napoli fan with Italian roots and travelled to Milan on a scouting mission at the weekend.

He witnessed at close quarters how lethal the Azzurri can be if their strikers are left unchecked.

Jose Callejon needed only a second to capitalise on Nemanja Vidic's slip-up and score the opener against Inter Milan at San Siro, with the Spanish forward promptly doubling up after Fredy Guarin equalised.

Hernanes' subsequent leveller denied Napoli victory, forcing a 2-2 draw in Serie A, and Forte, whose parents hail from Salerno, is concerned the Italians will be itching to make amends when they confront his team.

"I saw a strong Napoli side against Inter," he told Radio CRC. "They were a little underwhelming in the first half but recovered after the break.

"Napoli are always a dangerous team, one with enormous potential.

"We have to monitor their attackers, (Gonzalo) Higuain and Callejon are dangerous players. (Dries) Mertens is also a good footballer.

"We will have to decide whether to use a few extra players in defence to stem their attacking tide."



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