Napoli Pass vote of confidence on Gattuso

Napoli say they have unshaken confidence in Gennaro Gattuso despite increasing pressure on the former World cup winner.

The club suffered their sixth defeat of the Serie A season in the 3-1 reverse against Hellas Verona on Sunday, leaving his side sixth in the table.

After the defeat, president Aurelio De Laurentiis asked for a meeting with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli to discuss Gattuso’s position

But a statement on Napoli’s website published on Wednesday evening read: ‘President Aurelio De Laurentiis, Vice-President Edoardo and CEO Andrea Chiavelli have had a meeting with the first-team squad and coaching staff this evening and confirmed their total confidence in coach Rino Gattuso.’

The statement comes amid claims from Corriere dello Sport that De Laurentiis had called Benitez earlier this week to discuss a return to the club, having previously won the club’s fifth Coppa Italia title under his tutelage in 2014.

The report claimed Gattuso will have the opportunity to prove himself in Napoli’s Coppa Italia match against Spezia on Thursday, given that he has guided them to the quarter-finals of the competition and the round of 32 in the Europa League.

But the outlet claimed that should Gattuso fail to impress the board, De Laurentiis would cast him out and would look to close a deal with Benitez.

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Reports earlier this month had suggested Gattuso who lead the club to their most recent Coppa Italia triumph last season had even agreed to extend his Napoli contract until 2023. Napoli will on Sunday host Parma in one of the Serie A matches.