The highly-rated coach has no doubts as to who will arrive in the Italian capital as the favourites to triumph on Sunday.
Walter Mazzarri admitted that Italian champions Juventus are the odds on favourites to lift the Coppa Italia when they lock horns with his Napoli at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.
Napoli enjoyed a rather successful campaign this season, despite failing to reach their main objectives. Due to this Mazzarri's men will play their hearts out to inflict defeat upon Juventus in what is expected to be a hotly-contested final.
Mazzarri, whose Napoli were crushed 3-0 by Juventus in April, understands that his team face a daunting challenge, and evidently considers their rivals as being the overwhelming favourites coming into the clash.
"The Bianconeri have more experienced players and are under less pressure because they have already won [the Scudetto]. They are the favourites," he admitted to reporters during a pre-game press conference.
The coach counts with a high-quality outfit, that just missed out on Champions League qualification for the second consecutive year, something he brings down to the fact that they had to compete in three competitions this season.
"For us, however, it is an event. For the first time ever, my team has been playing in the Champions League, and I am convinced that if we had not competed on three fronts this year, we would be at least 13 points higher in the standings," he stated.
It was reported that Mazzarri could opt to replace Ezequiel Lavezzi for Goran Pandev for the final, due to the fact that the Argentine attacker hasn't been in the right frame of mind because of the constant rumours linking him with a move away from the Stadio San Paolo, but the coach denied claims.
"[Lavezzi] has worked perfectly during the week and is in great shape," affirmed the 50-year-old.
Mazzarri will be looking to lead Napoli to what would be a fourth Coppa Italia title, and their first after 25 years.
Napoli enjoyed a rather successful campaign this season, despite failing to reach their main objectives. Due to this Mazzarri's men will play their hearts out to inflict defeat upon Juventus in what is expected to be a hotly-contested final.
Mazzarri, whose Napoli were crushed 3-0 by Juventus in April, understands that his team face a daunting challenge, and evidently considers their rivals as being the overwhelming favourites coming into the clash.
"The Bianconeri have more experienced players and are under less pressure because they have already won [the Scudetto]. They are the favourites," he admitted to reporters during a pre-game press conference.
The coach counts with a high-quality outfit, that just missed out on Champions League qualification for the second consecutive year, something he brings down to the fact that they had to compete in three competitions this season.
"For us, however, it is an event. For the first time ever, my team has been playing in the Champions League, and I am convinced that if we had not competed on three fronts this year, we would be at least 13 points higher in the standings," he stated.
It was reported that Mazzarri could opt to replace Ezequiel Lavezzi for Goran Pandev for the final, due to the fact that the Argentine attacker hasn't been in the right frame of mind because of the constant rumours linking him with a move away from the Stadio San Paolo, but the coach denied claims.
"[Lavezzi] has worked perfectly during the week and is in great shape," affirmed the 50-year-old.
Mazzarri will be looking to lead Napoli to what would be a fourth Coppa Italia title, and their first after 25 years.
