Cavani out to repay Napoli in City showdown

SSC Napoli striker Edinson Cavani may be struggling in front of goal, but he insists he is "feeling good" and "staying positive" ahead of his side's crucial UEFA Champions League Group A encounter with Manchester City FC.

Uruguay international Cavani joined Napoli in July 2010 for approximately €17m having scored 27 Serie A goals in his two previous campaigns with US Città di Palermo. The 24-year-old then scored 26 more in Serie A — and six in the UEFA Europa League — last season as Napoli finished third in the Italian standings, proving such a hit in the city that a pizza was named in his honour.

This season, however, the 1.84m tall striker has struggled to hit the same heights, managing exactly half the league goals – four – he had mustered at the same stage in 2010/11. Not an ideal state of affairs when Napoli really need a home win against City.

"We need three points if we want to keep going in this prestigious competition," said Cavani, who has struck twice in Group A. "I am feeling good, even if I haven't scored as many goals as I did last season. The team and the coach have faith in me and it's not that important how many goals I score; the most important thing is for us to win matches."

Anyone who has witnessed the diligent defensive work the forward has carried out this season will recognise that Cavani's game is about more than just goals, and he said: "I like to take a positive attitude on to the pitch and I work very hard in training, which enables me to play well and assist the team, even if I don't score."

Cavani helped his national side win the Copa América in July, and that has given him an increased thirst for success. "I've reached important targets with Uruguay, and I hope, sooner or later, to do the same with Napoli," he said. For the moment, he has no desire to chase big prizes elsewhere, despite alleged interest from Napoli's upcoming opponents.

"It doesn't matter whether or not Manchester City are interested in me; I always give my all for the team I play for — and this really is a special team," he said. "Napoli have always shown enormous faith in me and I will never forget that." Another standout performance at the Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday — and maybe a goal or two — would be a great way to repay that trust.