Mazzarri not yet celebrating Champions League

ROME (AFP)– Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri refused to get carried away by his team's victory over Genoa that moved them to within five points of a place in next season's Champions League group stages.

Having been embroiled in the title race until two weeks ago when they lost twice in a row, Napoli have now accepted that they won't be crowned Italian champions at the season's end.

But they are still playing for a first ever qualification for the Champions League since the European Cup changed format.

Third place will ensure they go straight into the group stages whereas fourth would require them to play a qualifying round first.

Marek Hamsik struck seven minutes from time to defeat Genoa 1-0 in Naples on Saturday to give Napoli an eight point lead over fourth placed Lazio.

But Mazzarri says he won't break out the champagne until third place is mathematically secured.

"It's a victory that means a lot because we came into it off the back of two straight defeats and that hadn't happened before," said Mazzarri.

"There was a time during the game when we weren't as serene as normal, we could feel those two defeats and I'm happy mostly because we've bounced back."

But Mazzarri wasn't going to put the cart before the horse.

"Nothing's happened, there's another nine points to play for and until our final position is mathematically certain you can't talk about anything," he added, although he did suggest that he would need to strengthen his team in the summer if they do make it into the Champions League.

"At this level there are players and teams with great stature, tradition and expertise.

"It's a very high level and we all saw how the Italian teams struggled this year.

"You need a lot to do the competition justice so that you don't get embarrassed."

Despite the recent speculation surrounding Mazzarri's future -- with Juventus among reported suitors -- the coach refused to commit himself to the club.

"I'll wait until the end of the season to talk with the club and at the end you'll know," he told reporters.

"Right now I'm not thinking about it, I'm concentrating on the next game against Lecce.

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