Rafa Benitez said Napoli “created enough chances” to beat Dnipro, so can only blame themselves and not the referee.
The Partenopei had the best attack and defence going into the Europa League semi-finals, but went out 2-1 on aggregate to Ukrainians Dnipro.
Rafa Benitez said Napoli “created enough chances” to beat Dnipro, so can only blame themselves and not the referee.
The Partenopei had the best attack and defence going into the Europa League semi-finals, but went out 2-1 on aggregate to Ukrainians Dnipro.
“I think over the two legs we created enough chances to score the goals we needed. I am disappointed that after so much control and so many opportunities, a goal would’ve changed everything,” he told Sport Mediaset.
The equaliser in the first leg was offside, while there were also doubts about Yevhen Seleznyov’s winner in Kiev, as he appeared to be pulling Miguel Angel Britos’ jersey.
“It is serious, but we cannot change that. We should’ve scored with the chances we had and that is all there is to it.
“The team had the opportunities to score and didn’t take them. Of course Gonzalo Higuain is the centre-forward and people look more to him for goals, but we all win and lose together.
“Obviously the squad was disappointed and we could’ve done better.”
The television pundits in Italy were adamant the shirt-tug on Britos meant the goal should’ve been disallowed.
“We cannot change that now. I see it clearly, but we cannot change it. They are in the Final and we are not.”
Even if Dnipro had not scored that goal, Napoli still would’ve been eliminated on away goals.
“Aside from attacking the space, we could’ve done better between the lines in the first half. Dries Mertens is a different type of player who targets that space more, so it was an advantage in the second half, but we still didn’t finish the chances.
“We saw Dnipro are an organised side, but that even then we had enough clear-cut chances over two legs to win it.
“We’re talking about goals that should’ve been disallowed and could’ve changed everything, but the fact remains we should’ve scored and we didn’t do well enough in front of goal.”
Benitez was asked whether this elimination would affect his future, as he still hasn’t given a reply on the contract extension offer.
“Right now we have to concentrate on the game with Cesena. I spoke to the President, I still have to talk to my family, but we have to focus on the important matches we still have.
“Will my decision only be made at the end of the season? I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Napoli at this stage risk failing to qualify for the Champions League via Serie A and have a very tough final run-in, visiting Juventus and hosting Lazio.
“Juve are always difficult, we know that, but I have faith. We have to improve our finishing and then Napoli can win this type of game.”