Rafa Benitez praised Duvan Zapata, gave Jose Callejon a telling off and discussed his job offers to leave Napoli.

The Partenopei had been without a victory in four rounds and also kept a rare clean sheet in their 2-0 result over Parma.

Gonzalo Higuain was benched for the third time in the last four games in all competition.

“Higuain is a fundamental player for us, but Duvan is doing so well that it makes it easier for me to rotate the squad,” Benitez told Sky Sport Italia.

Rafa Benitez praised Duvan Zapata, gave Jose Callejon a telling off and discussed his job offers to leave Napoli.

The Partenopei had been without a victory in four rounds and also kept a rare clean sheet in their 2-0 result over Parma.

Gonzalo Higuain was benched for the third time in the last four games in all competition.

“Higuain is a fundamental player for us, but Duvan is doing so well that it makes it easier for me to rotate the squad,” Benitez told Sky Sport Italia.

“Today Duvan had a great performance because we analysed the game beforehand and thought his characteristics would be more suited to this opponent.

“Can Higuain and Zapata play together? Yes, it’s a possibility and we did that a few times during games, but it can be an option when starting too.

“These games seem easy and finished, but they are not, as we saw that Parma hit the upright and that could’ve gone in. We should’ve continued creating and pushing hard.”

Callejon wasted a golden opportunity on the counter-attack when going for goal rather than rolling across to Marek Hamsik.

“I told Callejon at the end of the game that it was important to get the third goal, it doesn’t matter who. He should’ve passed it to Hamsik, who had a better angle.

“If the team does better, he can score more goals, but the main priority is to win the match. If we waste chances like that, it becomes more difficult to win. He understood that and realised in that situation he should’ve passed it.”

On Monday Napoli will face Juventus in Doha for the Italian Super Cup, an annual challenge between Scudetto holders and Coppa Italia winners.

“I always say the next game is the most important and in this case we are challenging for a trophy with Juventus. At least I can say it’s the most important game of 2014…”

Benitez was also asked about his contract renewal and whether he’d be wishing reporters a Merry Christmas this time next year.

La Gazzetta dello Sport had claimed today that Liverpool and Valencia were the two sides who came to Benitez with job offers.

“I don’t know. The two clubs I saw reported in the paper were not true. It’s not easy to be serious and professional in football, but if they don’t give me permission to reveal their names, then I won’t. I can say that one was a club side and the other was a national team.”

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