The Spaniard's influence is already being shown to full effect by Napoli and Wednesday's convincing performance against Dortmund proves that they're set to excel and excite again

By Kris Voakes

To some, Rafa Benitez remains something of a laughing stock. From his mind games defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson full of "fact, fact, fact" to a six-month spell with Chelsea punctuated from start to end with crowd derision, via a failed attempt to follow Jose Mourinho’s success at Inter, the Spaniard’s flaws have been well covered by football fans and media the world over.

Yet anyone doubting his capabilities as a coach has been knocked down a peg or two before now, and Wednesday’s victory for Napoli against Borussia Dortmund in his first Champions League game in charge served as the latest example of what Benitez has in his armoury.

Following the loss of Edinson Cavani in the summer, many wondered how the 53-year-old would fill such a massive hole, but his response has been to take Walter Mazzarri’s 3-5-2 formation and rejig it completely. Not content with switching to a 4-2-3-1, Benitez has also got the Azzurri playing with more confidence and control on the ball, less dependent on the counterattack and therefore more able to impose themselves on their opposition.

Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up, simply had no answer. Their wayward defending was punished with the fantastic footwork of Lorenzo Insigne, the probing forays of Marek Hamsik and the intelligent movement of Gonzalo Higuain. Whereas once upon a time Napoli enjoyed playing home games as though they were on the road, ceding possession in order to hit opposition defences hard on the break, there is now a clear belief that they can take on their visitors by playing better, more controlled football.