The break was providential. "It allowed us to have Belotti and Borrelli back, and for a team like ours, that's vital. Therefore, everyone is eligible except Idrissi, Felici, and Pavoletti, as well as the suspended Dossena."
Fabio Pisacane has put the emergency behind him once and for all, breathing a huge sigh of relief and launching the challenge from the heart of the Crai Sport Center in Assemini. "Sassuolo is a team with values, drive, and a wide range of options. And in Turin against Juventus, they proved they're in good shape," the Cagliari coach stated in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow afternoon's match at the Mapei Stadium, immediately after the final training session. "They'll then play with aplomb, given the league standings. From midfield on up, they have quality and can be lethal in transition." In other words: "We'll have to be very careful on our final stretch of the pitch, on our preventative moves."
No timetables or safety quotas in this thrilling final rush. The Neapolitan coach remains true to his past words, insisting: "I prefer to focus on everything we need to get back to winning ways. More than numbers, we're relying on the pitch, hoping this will be the right time."
How did he feel about the Rossoblu after the World Cup flop? "It was a blow for us, let alone for them, who wanted to write an important chapter in their history." And regarding the general crisis that Italian football has been going through for years and the revolution currently taking place in the leadership, the Cagliari coach states: "I'm disappointed because beyond the roles, there are the people. And if they decided to take this step, they demonstrated a great sense of responsibility for the country after doing everything they could. Unfortunately, in football as in life, there are victories and there are defeats," Pisacane emphasizes. "This is the moment when we all need to come together. The last time Italy participated in a World Cup, I was twenty. My children haven't seen it yet, and that's what hurts the most. But we are a strong country, and we will bounce back."
Returning to the match against Sassuolo, two of the most anticipated players are undoubtedly Mina and Deiola. On the defender: "He's trained very well these past two weeks. He's one of the players who needs to be our driving force, he needs to lead this team towards our ultimate goal." On the midfielder: "I admit I was emotional to see him back on the pitch after such a long time. He's one of those players Cagliari needs; he knows exactly what it means to wear this jersey."
Pisacane then said that anyone on the plane to Emilia should expect to start, including Mendy. "He's a guy who can give us a hand, both from the start and during the match."
