Three games away from glory, Napoli need their Argentine Superstar to fire them home
By: Peter Nicolaides
Between 2010 to 2013, Europa League defences were terrorized on Thursday nights by Radamel Falcao. In the colours of Porto (2010/11) and then Atletico Madrid (2011 – 2013) the Colombian became Mr. Europa League as he won back-to-back Europa League titles, one at each club. Falcao notched-up an impressive 29 goals over 2 Europa League campaigns. A decisive goal in the 2011 final and a virtuoso performance a year later, the Colombian had left his mark on the competition. Breaking the all-time UEFA Cup goal-scoring record in a single season with an impressive tally of 17 was another feather in the cap for a single season in a period of dominance from the Colombian goal-machine.
Fast forward to 2015 and it’s been Napoli relying on Gonzalo Higuain to emulate the Colombian in this this season’s competition. Having been signed as a replacement for Edinson Cavani back in 2013, the former-Real Madrid striker was Napoli’s most high-profile signing since that of fellow-Argentine, Diego Maradona. With the Rafa Benitez-era at Napoli already bringing in a Coppa Italia and Supercopa Italia, its the Europa League title that Napoli need the most. Sitting outside of the top three, Napoli risk missing out on Champions League football next season.
Semifinale @EuropaLeague, #NapoliDnipro: arbitra il norvegese Svein Oddvar Moen #UEL http://pic.twitter.com/uWysGiRkM6
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) May 5, 2015
With Serie A having only three Champions League places (ironically due to poor performances in the Europa League), Gonzalo Higuain needs to step-up and fire Napoli into the Champions League. He already is well on his way to doing that with his vital opening goal away to Wolfsburg as Napoli trounced the German outfit 4-1 in an emphatic away win. Along with six other vital goals in the competition. For both club and player, an uncertain future could possibly be on the horizon without Champions League football. Napoli may be forced to cash-in on their Argentine hit man in the summer to make up for the losses of a lack of the cash-injection that the Champions League group stages bring.
Unfortunately for Higuain, very few clubs in Europe can afford him or guarantee a regular spot in the starting eleven, or both! At Napoli, he is the centre-piece of the team, the star player, the first name on the team sheet. With the uncertain future of Rafa Benitez as Napoli manager, Champions League football may dictate the calibre of manager that Napoli attract – should a Europa League win fail to lure the Spanish tactician in staying for another season. With Napoli having been linked to the likes of Manuel Pellegrini and Jurgen Klopp in recent weeks, it’s hard to see either being lured to Naples without participation (and the finances) in Europe’s biggest club competition.
For Napoli the equation is simple. Win the Europa League and subsequently qualify for the Champions League and the future looks bright with potentially big, high-profile arrivals – on and off the field. Failing to lift the Europa League trophy would mean a summer of doubt, uncertainty and high-profile departures.
Of all the teams remaining in the Europa League, Napoli – perhaps more than any other – need the Europa League crown and the incentive that comes with it. Napoli need Gonzalo Higuain to fire in both semi-final games and the final.
The post Why Napoli Need Higuian to Become Mr. Europe League appeared first on Italian Football Daily.
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