Rome: Manager Walter Mazzarri ruled out Napoli`s chances of winning the Italian Serie A following his side`s 2-3 defeat to Bologna.
Mazzarri said, as Juventus, who are now the Winter Champions with a seven-point lead at the top of the table, are nearly invincible, Napoli should focus on other objectives than the Serie A title, reports Xinhua.
"The whole `anti-Juventus` thing is a slogan the media thought up and I`m sick of it. Juventus are doing something extraordinary and I`ve said since the summer that we have to grow," he said.
"We`re all on a par now for second place and will see how the season ends, as I don`t see anyone else right now who can compete with Juve. Maybe things will change, but it`s tough when they` re playing like that. We should focus on other objectives," he added.
Then he criticised his players for wasting chances in the match.
"These players gave their all tonight. When you waste that many chances at this level, you will pay. I don`t know how many opportunities we had to finish it off," he said.
"Napoli created many scoring opportunities and Bologna scored on one of only two chances they had in the first half," he said.
"Our defect is that once we take the lead, we think the job is done. It has happened many times and we don`t finish sides off.
"We get distracted and unconsciously the players think the victory is safe. That is where we really must improve and make that step up in quality, otherwise we`ll keep dropping points continually," he said.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.