Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri hailed the “extraordinary” efforts of his side after they ended Juventus’ bid for an unbeaten campaign with a 2-0 Coppa Italia final win.
An Edinson Cavani penalty put Napoli ahead after 63 minutes, with Marek Hamsik ensuring victory seven minutes from time at the Stadio Olimpico as Napoli won their first silverware since claiming the Serie A title in 1990.
“I am delighted, because it seemed impossible to beat Juve this year as they had never lost,” Mazzarri told reporters.
“The whole team has done something extraordinary in this period.
“Cavani, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi, Hamsik are on everyone’s lips, but it is the group that is exceptional and should be celebrated as a whole.”
Napoli’s on-loan striker Goran Pandev, a three-time Coppa Italia winner with Lazio and parent club Inter Milan, said that this latest victory in the competition was the sweetest.
“There is so much satisfaction,” he said.
“For me this is the fourth Italian Cup win, but it is also the most beautiful.
“We deservedly won, against great opponents, and Naples, with all its fans, has deserved this success.
“We were the first to beat Juventus this year and this fills us with satisfaction.”