Piedmontese doc, former granata, both as a footballer and as a coach. But Davide Nicola goes beyond the emotional aspect, he only has the technical and tactical one in mind. He considers the match against Torino like any other, a match to win , and he certainly doesn't mince his words. "There's always the pleasure of competing with teams of this kind", the premise. "The past is just useful to define what the present is", the Cagliari coach is keen to point out. "I'm focused on the opponent and I, along with my staff and my players, can't wait to face him". And again on the past he specifies: "Fundamentally I'm a coach. I respect the fan bases I represented and I immerse myself completely in the one I represent today ".

The gauntlet in the press room of the “Crai Sport Center” in Assemini, where Nicola shows his teeth to Toro while still respecting him. “ A competitive and qualitative team ,” he recalls. “They can’t let the game slip away even when things aren’t going well. They have a very high center of gravity, they have multiple strategies, they use the wings but at the same time they play well with the strikers, who are very close together.” That said: “We have the qualities and ideas to counter them.” Except for Obert, even the internationals are ready to give their contribution to the cause. “They are all skilled and enlisted.”

The Torino-Udinese-Bologna triptych will also be a test for Cagliari from an athletic point of view, explains Nicola. «This cycle of games so close together can demonstrate that our condition is improving for everyone , in addition to giving us important answers on what we are doing». And important points in the standings.

Fabiano Gaggini

© Riproduzione riservata