Sampdoria coach Gigi del Neri hailed his players after clinching fourth place and Champions League qualification.

The Blucerchiati's 1-0 victory over Napoli proved decisive in fighting off Palermo for fourth place.

"We had a fantastic campaign, especially in the second half of the season, and the team believed in itself," said Del Neri.

"I think this is equal to the Scudetto won in the 1990s, as the team was simply not prepared or constructed for this achievement.

"The players all became part of a unit, of a team, and that is what made our success. Clearly there are individual talents like Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano whose many goals made a decisive contribution."