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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Napoli owner wants top players rested against Man City

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis poses during a photocall of his movie "Toto 3D" at the Rome, Italy, Film Festival in this October 29, 2011 file photo. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito/Files Picture Supplied by Action Images

MILAN (Reuters) - Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis wants coach Maurizio Sarri to rest his top players for their Champions League match at Manchester City on Tuesday, saying they have other priorities.

Napoli lead Serie A after winning their first eight games and De Laurentiis suggested that Saturday's home league match against second-placed Inter Milan was just as important.

"I think that in this game, the players with more playing time should be rested in order to preserve them," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The Inter match is around the corner and it is just as important. We have to approach the Inter match in a more considered way," he added.

"In Europe, we should only worry about getting to the next stage, not about winning every match."

City lead Group F with six points from two games, followed by Napoli and Shakhtar Donetsk who have three each while Feyenoord have lost their opening two matches.

The top two in each group qualify for the last 16.

"I say that we need to evaluate everything and adopt the right strategy," De Laurentiis added. "I'm lucky to have a coach who's a great strategist.”

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, editing by Ed Osmond)

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