He will return to Cagliari on April 1st and beating him won't be a joke. His SüdTirol is fourth in the standings, three points below Genoa and second place which is worth direct promotion: «If it's a dream – and it is – let us dream. Also for this reason I will come back to win, I say it for the respect I have for the shirt and for the Sardinian people ».

Pierpaolo Bisoli, yes, even more than others, of the rossoblù club can define himself as Il Capitano.

Here because.

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To Cagliari, as a player, he gave six years and a career whistle, two legs and his heart. As a coach he put passion into it, but he didn't succeed in bringing the team to the top. «But Nainggolan was already from Cesena and I convinced the president Cellino to keep him». On the pitch, Pierpaolo Bisoli was the one who damned himself most of all: from 1991 to 1997, from Mazzone to Mazzone, passing through Giacomini, Giorgi, Tabarez, Trapattoni and Gregorio Perez. Then Ventura, who preferred Zanoncelli to him, and goodbyes arrived after a long series of fabulous championships always lived with a high back and a straight back. And he, a midfielder like Brigel (German marvel of Verona champion of Italy), discovered in Viareggio in Serie C2 by Carmine Longo during the management of the Orrù, still wears the rossoblù shirt, despite the vicissitudes of football taken elsewhere after conquering epic saves, a qualification and a UEFA Cup semi-final. As claimed by some of his friends from Cagliari, but with origins in Porretta Terme, the town of the current coach of SüdTirol, «Pierpaolo conquered everything he has with his work». The rossoblù people know it well.

Two legs, we said, he donated to the cause. On December 22, 1996, Bisoli broke his tibia and fibula in a fight with Schwarz in Florence. On 16 January 1994 he had already donated his other leg to the rossoblù cause, in a clash with Desideri, during the match against Udinese. That time, however, he played down: "My wife is pregnant, it's as if I were too, we will give birth together". Dimitri, the current captain of Brescia, was waiting for him, who scored the equalizer last Sunday in the match between the Rondinelle and Cagliari.

«Several times», says the coach of SüdTirol, now fifty-six years old, «he has been compared to the rossoblùs, but nothing has come of it. He was born in Cagliari, he couldn't wait to come back. In Brescia he is very happy with his family, he has found his dimension there». However, Bisolone's head is now in South Tyrol and the attacking football he prefers for his team.

***

Bisoli, how is it up there?

«I start by saying, the goal of SüdTirol remains salvation».

Are you kidding?

"No. Because when I arrived we were given up for lost. The team, newly promoted, was last. Now we are three points behind Genoa, with the direct match at home, here at the "Druso"».

You will also play at home against Bari, another direct match.

«And my team will try to win, as they do in all matches. Also on Saturday in Parma. We will play death. If we then qualify for the playoffs, we will party. If we don't succeed, however, I wouldn't want the great season of the boys to be diminished ».

A direct match awaits you against Cagliari too.

«And I'll come to win, something I've already done in Serie B with Perugia. You know me: it's my mentality. I am a professional, yet I am fond of the places where I work. There's great enthusiasm in Bolzano and you can breathe a sporting atmosphere from the past: here the third half still exists at the end of the matches, there's a wonderful alchemy between clubs, players and fans».

Tell the truth though: Sardinia has remained in your heart.

«God forbid. My children were born in Cagliari and I played for Cagliari for seven years. Every time I come back it's a blast from the past, but it's a bit like being at home. It also applies to my family. My shirt, then, is the rossoblù one forever and I can only wish Cagliari to return to where it belongs: in Serie A».

In the first leg he had some disagreements with Lapadula and Nandez.

«He's in after a match played on the razor's edge. We will shake hands at the Domus».

You won qualification for the UEFA Cup and almost didn't win it.

«I remember the more than 3,000 Sardinians who, from Germany and Belgium, came to support us during the match against Malines. A very strong emotion, from goosebumps ».

Some regrets remain, however.

"No. I also became a grandfather of two children: life, not just sporting, has always held so much for me. I know that people, in every city where I've worked, love me: they appreciated me as a person. But in Cagliari yes, I would have stayed for life».

In Bolzano he wanted Larrivey with him, whose goals in the last season were decisive for Cosenza's salvation in the Serie B playouts.

«He is an experienced player who is getting in line with our training method and the pace of our game. Last year in Cosenza, another city where we performed a miracle – everyone: fans, team, club – he was great. He will also give his contribution to SüdTirol, like all the boys, whom I take this opportunity to thank».

And Cagliari?

"Greetings everyone, see you on April 1st."

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