Mazzarri urges Napoli to continue fight

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has called on his players to halt their two-match losing streak in Serie A when they host Genoa on Saturday.

Mazzarri’s side were unlikely title contenders for much of the season, before slipping to third in the table following consecutive defeats to Udinese and Palmero.

Now nine points behind league leaders AC Milan with only four matches remaining, the Scudetto is surely out of their grasp.

But Mazzarri has not given up yet, challenging his team to protect the record of never having lost three consecutive matches under his stewardship, which began in October 2009.

“The game against Genoa is not decisive because there are another three still to play,” Mazzarri said.

“However we have never lost two games in a row since I’ve been at the club and it’s the moment to show our attributes.”

After the visit of Genoa, Napoli are away to struggling Lecce, before matches against traditional giants Juventus and Inter Milan to conclude the season.

“I am counting on the fans’ support in this game, which will be very difficult,” Mazzarri said.

“We have to fight until the end to finish this fantastic season. We never pose any limits on ourselves. We have four big finals ahead of us and I want to get maximum points.”

“Until this year Napoli weren’t used to competing in the upper echelons of the table, but in two years we have done extraordinary things.”