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Rafa Benitez says Napoli must play with the mind and not with the heart

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has said his players need to play more intelligently in order to improve their poor early-season form, but feels all that is missing is goals.

- Horncastle: Pressure on Benitez as Napoli stumble

The Partenopei host Palermo on Wednesday night, with pressure on the Spanish coach growing after one win and two defeats from the first three Serie A matches of the season.

While admitting he had not expected such a bad start -- the worst since Roberto Donadoni was in charge five years ago -- Benitez is remaining positive.

He said all the statistics relating to Napoli's performances so far had been favourable -- except for that of goals scored.

"We need to be able to work with the mind and not with the heart," he told a news conference.

"You've got to analyse games by looking at the statistics, and the statistics we've got are positive.

"We've taken more shots at goal than any other side in Serie A. We can still improve and it's only early days, but what we have done so far is positive. We deserve more.

"If [Walter] Gargano had scored in Udine, maybe the game would have ended 4-0 for us. We're getting lots of shots in on goal, but we just need to be more clinical and focused. If we do that, the team will get better. Last year, we were attacking and scoring goals straight away, but right now we're not succeeding."

Benitez, whose side are already out of the Champions League after a playoff defeat to Athletic Bilbao, is no longer seen as untouchable.

The mood of club president Aurelio De Laurentiis also appears to have changed, and speculation has suggested that Roberto Mancini could replace the former Liverpool manager.

But Benitez said: "I spoke to the president yesterday and everything is fine. We both remain convinced that the team will have a great season. I've been coaching for many years, and I know that the team need to have the right mentality. I'm talking to my lads and we know what the right path is.

"I watched our game against Udinese again and I saw [Napoli goalkeeper] Rafael was never tested. We need to work, like I've said, but if we win one game everything will change. If we lose, we've just got to keep on thinking how we can improve. Our aim is always to win our next game."