Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Rafa Benitez: Aurelio De Laurentiis happy with Napoli victory

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez said even club president Aurelio De Laurentiis was smiling after his side's return to winning ways in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Under pressure after the Azzurri's worst start to a season in the past four years, including a disappointing elimination from the Champions League, Benitez chose to abandon his plans to rotate his team -- announced on the eve of the game -- sticking instead to his first-choice starting XI.

That was as big an indication as possible of how much was riding on the clash with Sparta Prague, which they won 3-1 at the Stadio San Paolo.

"I'm satisfied with my Napoli," the Spaniard told Mediaset. "Particularly with their reaction after Sparta's goal. We needed determination, and we had it. Everything was positive in this game, even the contribution from the fans.

"OK, we got things wrong on their corner, but then we did a lot and deserved this result."

That was the same message delivered to the side by De Laurentiis in the dressing room after the game.

"He told us that we had to be happy with this 3-1," Benitez said. "I'm talking to De Laurentiis often and there are no problems -- it's a normal relationship. Sometimes you might have different opinions, but we are professionals and we move on in unison."

Napoli also moved on with practically the same team Benitez sent into action for the defeat to Chievo last weekend, and the same players he is expected to field at Udinese on Sunday, even if the Spanish tactician had earlier played up the merits of squad rotation.

"It is important that you give everybody a chance, but it's equally important to maintain a group who are doing well, and that is what we are doing in spite of the result against Chievo," he said.

"They all knew what to do, but we are going to need everybody over the course of the season. Of course Higuain is crucial for us, but so too are the others, like our defenders. Today, everybody played well."

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