«First home win against a top eight? It was time". Claudio Ranieri celebrates this afternoon's 2-1 draw with Palermo, which does not make Cagliari gain positions but still keeps everything open (although without having fate in hand) for fourth place which would avoid the playoff preliminary round.
In the press conference he asks to play it until the end in the regular season: «We have to continue like this, because if we switch off we can't plug it back in. Now let's go to Cosenza as best we can, then we'll see the results of the others». On the playoffs: «I hope to play at least four games, in one match you can lose against anyone, while between the two games you can do something more».
The changes. Just as with Ternana, with the four substitutions at the interval, Ranieri got his hands on Cagliari and reaped the benefits, with Deiola's move from central defender to midfielder just before the midfielder made it 1-1. «Since they scored from a corner kick and we knew that Palermo were very good at making the opposing team go around in circles, alternating plays, I preferred to bring them back as they are more used to pressing. Had we conceded a goal on the first two occasions, the match would have gone smoothly, but with "ifs" and "buts" you won't go anywhere». On the substitutions of Zappa and Dossena, however, the explanation is much simpler: «They were already booked, I didn't want to risk it».
Last change. Ranieri's formation was decided at the last moment, thanks to the gastrointestinal virus that hit Prelec this morning: «I would have played with him, because he's going through a good moment and he could press forwards like I like. But I didn't expect Pavoletti to do such a race, always available to Lapadula and Mancosu: I'm satisfied with all three ahead. And Makoumbou has become an essential player, I'm happy with how many balls he recovers: he's not Kanté, but I'm calm».
