The imperative is to get back up immediately. This is what Zé Maria asks of Olbia on the eve of the derby and direct clash with the equal points (13) Atletico Uri, which follows the bad defeat suffered at home to Sarnese.
“The derby is always a special match, and this is my second derby since I've been here,” begins the coach of the whites, introducing the challenge of the 16th day of Serie D, scheduled for tomorrow at the “Nespoli”. “I saw what Cos showed in 90 minutes in terms of nastiness by coming to play here despite never having won before, but I can't fear the opponent. Respect it, yes,” adds Zé Maria. “Atletico Uri is in the same situation as us in the standings, but I expect my team to start strong and not slowly and then react, as has happened other times. I've seen the boys well these days: our job is to try to transfer the work done during the week onto the pitch”.
The setback has caused the Gallura team to slip to fourth-last place, 5 points from the safety zone, but the standings are very tight, and that's why starting again immediately could make the difference. "The beauty of this championship is that with 8 defeats and 4 draws we are out of the direct relegation zone: every point helps, and tomorrow I expect a demonstration of character and awareness of our strength", underlines the Olbia coach. "Accidents along the way can happen, but not like what happened on Saturday. I spoke with the boys immediately after the match, and also afterwards, when they resumed: they understood where they went wrong and worked hard on the mistakes made so as not to repeat them".
Finally, the players called up. “I have 17 players available: La Rosa, Maspero, Caggiu and Brancato are missing due to physical problems, Totti has just returned and Santi and Anelli have been told to find another team, but I have the substitutions”, replies Zé Maria, seraphic and ironic, to a direct question. “The reinforcements were requested three weeks ago: I was clear, the blanket is short, and we have to hurry, because the market then closes and we are already late. I know that two or three players will arrive in the next few days, but it should have been done much earlier: there as a club – concludes the Brazilian coach – we have to improve”.
Teams on the field at 2.30pm: referee Giosuè Ambrosino from Torre del Greco.