Napoli, Pandev: "Benitez is a winner and with him we'll be able to take on Juve"

The striker from Macedonia looked ahead to the season that awaits the Azzurri: "We'll have to exploit the pressure that surrounds the team to win new trophies." His position: "I like playing behind the centre forward, but I'll play where I'm needed." Cavani's departure: "A pity, but he deserves gratitude for what he did here"

What can the man who enjoyed victory as part of the Nerazzurri treble-winning side in 2010 want now? To win, win and win again: that's what Goran Pandev has firmly fixed in his mind. Newly arrived Napoli coach Rafa Benitez has asked him for assists and more goals: "I'm pleased the coach thinks I'm a better player now than I was when he coached me at Inter. I want to win some trophies here because the Coppa Italia we won isn't much, considering what we have here at Napoli. We need to set our sights on more important trophies. Juve have signed two great strikers (Tevez and Llorente, Ed.) and they are still the team to beat."

Position — That's clear, isn't it? The Macedonian striker still has the pragmatism of Josè Mourinho, but is open-minded regarding the evolution of Rafa Benitez's style of play: "The manager sees me behind the centre forward, as an attacking midfielder. That's my favourite position on the park, but I'm ready and willing to sacrifice myself on the wing as I did for Mourinho." Pandev also had some kind words for the other coach who has proved fundamental to his career, Mazzarri, however he wasn't forgetting the occasional match where he was forced to play against his will. He put it like this, including the criticisms: "I'd like to thank Mazzarri for all he has done here. He signed me for Napoli. But one thing I won't do in the future is play when I'm not well. That's something a player should not do, and I learned the hard way."

New projects — Pandev is proud of new signings Mertens and Callejon, and considers them valid reinforcements: "I hope the club will bring in players who are good up front, they are always welcome. It's going to be a tough season and everyone will get a game. Benitez is more relaxed now than when we were at Inter. Now we are at Napoli and the set-up is very different. I repeat that I'm pleased he has noticed the improvement in my fitness. Rafa has won a lot, all we have to do is listen to him."

Errors — Pandev's flight path is perfectly clear and precise. He set it out in his own words: "We have a great squad here, with a mine of experience. Compared with last year we need to brush up on how to approach certain games which is why we didn't win the Scudetto. I'm thinking about those fatal clashes with Bologna and Sampdoria, for example. There will be a lot of expectations and pressure on us, but we are a year older and we won't allow these expectations to influence our game. Benitez wants a compact team and wants us to press our opponents from the start. The first friendly was a demonstration that we are listening to him and now we are waiting to take on stronger opposition to test our game further."

Cheers Edi — Pandev had something to say regarding former fellow-striker, Cavani: "We had a great centre forward and I'm sorry he left. Cavani scored a lot of goals and we can only thank him for that. I wish he could have stayed to win alongside us. It's up to us now not to make his absence felt."