Rafael Benitez future up in air after favourites Napoli are stunned by Dnipro

The Partenopei had the best attack and defence going into the Europa League semi-finals, but went out 2-1 on aggregate to Ukrainians Dnipro.

“I think over the two legs we created enough chances to score the goals we needed. I am disappointed that after so much control and so many opportunities, a goal would’ve changed everything,” he told Sport Mediaset.

The former Liverpool manager was asked whether this elimination would affect his future at the Italian club. He still hasn’t given a reply on the contract extension offer.

“Right now we have to concentrate on the game with Cesena (in Serie A)," said Benitez. "I spoke to the president, I still have to talk to my family, but we have to focus on the important matches we still have.

"Will my decision only be made at the end of the season? I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Napoli at this stage risk failing to qualify for the Champions League via Serie A and have a very tough final run-in, visiting Juventus and hosting Lazio.

“Juve are always difficult, we know that, but I have faith. We have to improve our finishing and then Napoli can win this type of game.”

The equaliser against Dnipro in the first leg was offside, while there were also doubts about Yevhen Seleznyov’s winner in Kiev, as he appeared to be pulling Miguel Angel Britos’ jersey.

“It is serious, but we cannot change that," said Benitez. "We should’ve scored with the chances we had and that is all there is to it.

“The team had the opportunities to score and didn’t take them. Of course Gonzalo Higuain is the centre-forward and people look more to him for goals, but we all win and lose together.

“Obviously the squad was disappointed and we could’ve done better.”

The television pundits in Italy were adamant the shirt-tug on Britos meant the goal should’ve been disallowed.

“We cannot change that now. I see it clearly, but we cannot change it. They are in the final and we are not.”

Even if Dnipro had not scored that goal, Napoli still would’ve been eliminated on away goals.

“Aside from attacking the space, we could’ve done better between the lines in the first half. Dries Mertens is a different type of player who targets that space more, so it was an advantage in the second half, but we still didn’t finish the chances.

“We saw Dnipro are an organised side, but that even then we had enough clear-cut chances over two legs to win it.

“We’re talking about goals that should’ve been disallowed and could’ve changed everything, but the fact remains we should’ve scored and we didn’t do well enough in front of goal.”

Rafael Benitez tends to taste success wherever he goes. There is little doubt that Napoli's defeat to Dnipro will hurt the former Liverpool coach especially after such a successful relationship with the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Europa League during spells running Valencia, Liverpool and Chelsea. He has won this tournament twice, and would have fancied a third trinket this season. With such a fine array of talent, Napoli at least expected to be contesting the final. Now they must redouble their efforts to qualify for the Champions League. That looks far from certain with Napoli winning only four of their past 11 games in their domestic league.

With three games remaining in Sere A, Napoli are three points behind third-placed Lazio. They have a poorer goal difference than the Rome side, but head-to-head counts in Italy if there is a tie on points. The one consolation Benitez can take is Lazio's run-in. They face sixth-placed Sampdoria, Roma in second before visiting Napoli on the final day of the season. Could Benitez be touted for a potential return to England during the close season? Would Liverpool be interested in their Champions League-winning coach? Much could depend upon these closing three games in Italy.