Napoli players annoyed with De Laurentiis' training retreat, says Benitez

Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by Goal.com

The Spaniard has criticised the Napoli president for using methods from the 1970s and feels the decision to enforce a training camp only annoyed the players

Napoli boss Rafael Benitez has hit out at the club's president Aurelio De Laurentiis after he ordered the team to go on a training retreat.

A 2-2 home draw against Wolfsburg saw the Serie A side progress 6-3 on aggregate in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday evening, yet after the club's Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Lazio, the players were forced to attend the camp by the president.

The training retreat was stopped earlier this week after Christian Maggio called De Laurentiis to reach an agreement over the squad's commitment levels.

"It's something that was used in 1970," said Benitez. "I am not against a training retreat per se, but I am against it as a punishment that has no effect other than to annoy the players.

"We proved last year that we can win without it."

Benitez will have his contract expire in the summer and has hinted that, in order for the club to progress, further investment is needed in the squad.

"We have reached a point where it is difficult to take that extra step up, but it's important for the fans to see their team do well in Europe," he added.

"The supporters want to win titles and play in the Champions League. We're still in the running for a top-three finish in Serie A and now we must concentrate on the game with Sampdoria [on Sunday]."

Napoli are currently five points behind third-placed Roma, who occupy the final Champions League spot in Serie A.