This time Ze Maria plays ahead of the game. Before introducing the derby with Costa Orientale Sarda, scheduled for tomorrow in Tertenia for the 12th day of the return leg of Serie D, the Olbia coach touches on the hot topic of the non-payment of February salaries, which should have been paid by March 20.
"It's normal that no one is happy about not receiving their salary, but the situation has been clarified : the club has guaranteed that they will be paid next week and the lads have calmed down," he declared this morning in the usual pre-match press conference. "The team has trained hard, and is focused on tomorrow's match that we will face as a normal match," he then added. "It's a derby, but in the end it's worth 3 points. They are playing at home, and they are perhaps at their last resort, but it's not our problem: if we beat Cos we can keep them at a distance and make a leap forward in the standings."
The Gallura Path
The home defeat against Savoia, which interrupted the streak of three victories, did not change the ranking of the whites, who with 33 points are out of the relegation zone. But being sucked in is an instant. For this reason Ze Maria insists: « We respect the opponent but for us tomorrow there is only one result». That is, the victory. «Beyond the defeat on Sunday, characterized by particular episodes, we are going through a good moment. The quality of this team is very high for the category: the boys know it, I repeat it every week. We are trying to be serious in what we do, then we drop for five or six minutes and the opponent takes advantage, but I do not think that tomorrow anyone will take the field thinking they are superior to their opponents». Who – for the record – are second to last with 25 points and 4 of distance from the play-offs for salvation.
But be careful about your approach to the match. "When training resumed after Savoia, I was very angry not for the result, but for how we played: we didn't play well," emphasizes the former Inter full-back, who made his debut on the Olbia bench in the first leg of the derby against Cos, which ended 1-1. "We did well for five or six minutes at the start, then that was it. Refereeing errors cannot be an excuse for not playing football. We must not react, but act, which is very different. Then, salaries were added and I got even angrier," says Ze Maria. "There are six games left until the end of the championship, with 18 points up for grabs. We have a 2-point advantage over the playouts and a 2-point gap from ninth place: I can't make mistakes, the team can't make mistakes and the club can't make mistakes."
The derby eleven
As for the lineup, the Brazilian coach explains: «We will change a few things, also because Costanzo will be missing due to suspension and De Grazia due to injury: during the week we tried different solutions also in terms of the formation, we will see tomorrow». Finally, his replacement: tomorrow Ze Maria will not be on the bench due to suspension. «In 15 years of coaching career, it is the first time I have been sent off, and it happened only for asking the referee for explanations on the disallowance of the goal», he recalls about the day of suspension suffered after the match with Savoia.
However, "Tore Melino will be on the bench," Ze Maria reveals. Coach of the Under 19s and former defender of Olbia. "He has been with us every day this week: he is good, he knows the environment and he is ready."
Teams on the pitch at Is Arranas in Tertenia at 3pm: referee Michele Buzzone from Enna.