GOAL

Walter Mazzarri has revealed he built his Napoli side solely around Edinson Cavani during their three years together in Naples.

The club's former coach says the PSG striker was pivotal in his success the club, with his tactical approach geared towards maximising his goal threat

The Italian brought the striker to the club from Palermo in 2010 and made him the focal point of an attack that also included Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik.

Cavani subsequently enjoyed the most prolific period of his career, which culminated in the winning of the Coppa Italia in 2012 before he departed for Paris Saint-Germain a year later.

Mazzarri, who left Napoli in 2013 before spending seven months in charge of Inter between May and November, has now revealed the secrets to the Uruguay star's success at the club, and praised his physical qualities and ability inside the 18-yard box.

"With me, Edi became the focal point of our attack," he explained to L'Equipe. "It's true, he also helped us to defend, but there was a team around him that could do that. The team was organised to get the best out of him.

"He's a strong player athletically and he can play in other areas but he is the biggest threat in the penalty area. When he plays in behind the defence he's very dangerous. He was a great striker in Italy against defenders who don't give you a lot of space."

Since moving to France, Cavani has had to adapt to a very different role at PSG, often operating in a wide left position with Zlatan Ibrahimovic preferred through the middle.

As a result he has often failed to reproduce the performances that made him a household name in Italy, though he impressed in scoring the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.