Mazzarri credits team spirit after draw

Napoli’s 1-1 draw away to Atalanta does not tell the whole story of the visitors’ performance, according to their coach Walter Mazzarri.

The away side needed a 94th-minute equaliser from Edinson Cavani to take a point from their trip to the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo.

Napoli are without a win in their last three league fixtures, but Mazzarri saw cause for encouragement during Saturday’s match.

“I don’t talk about the performance only with regards to the result and in the first half we played well, although didn’t take our chances,” Mazzarri said.

“I was interested in our approach in a very difficult arena.”

“The team (spirit) was there and that was the important thing. (German) Denis scored a great goal and put us under pressure, but at the end Cavani got a deserved equaliser.”

On-loan striker Goran Pandev made no attempt to hide his displeasure at being substituted for Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 62nd minute.

Mazzarri said the Macedonia striker might have earned the right to stay on the pitch, but with his team trailing, the coach felt the need to introduce danger-man Lavezzi.

“Pandev was angry and perhaps he was right, as I could’ve kept him on for another 10 minutes,” Mazzarri said.

“He was improving. At that moment, though, I needed the pace and agility of Pocho (Lavezzi). I will apologise to Pandev.”

Napoli’s indifferent league form means they are now nine points back from Serie A leaders Juventus, and seemingly falling out of contention for the Scudetto, even at this early stage of the season.

But despite finishing fourth last term, Mazzarri denied a title challenge had ever been one of his team’s objectives for 2011/12.

“The newspapers made that our target, but we never did,” he said.

“We beat Inter and Milan, so they said we were title-contenders, but the Champions League takes a lot out of you. We’re missing four or five points because of those commitments.”