🎙️INTERVIEW | Deiola with the media

Alessandro Deiola spoke to the media after this afternoon’s training session. The Rossoblu midfielder was also a guest on the “Il Cagliari in diretta” program, broadcast on Radiolina and Videolina. Below is an extract of his words:

THE MATCH AT UNIPOL DOMUS
We’ll be facing a well-organized team. They’re newly promoted, but they’ve always held their own against anyone. That surprised me. For our part, we’re preparing for this match as best we can, to be ready in every way, both physically and mentally. We know the pitfalls of matches like this, and we certainly can’t afford to make mistakes or lapses in concentration. We’re aware of the importance of the match, and we want to do well, to get a result in front of our home crowd—an advantage we must capitalize on. It’s a direct clash, and I treat it like a final. A win would boost our morale and improve our position in the standings. Mina’s recovery? Yerry is an important player for us; he brings us experience, charisma, and leadership. He can give us an extra edge.

STRONGER THAN UNFAIR CRITICISM
“Over these years, I’ve matured, gained a lot of experience and experience. I’ve grown both as a man and as a footballer. Compared to my first games in this jersey, for example, I feel more prepared, ready, and more responsible. I always try to set the right example for my teammates; off the pitch, my goal is to be a better husband and father every day. Criticism? I accept the positive ones. The other kind, the nasty and sometimes hateful ones, I’ve had to learn to let go. At first, it hurt. Many times, I remember, I’d finish the match in tears. I thank the people who have always been close to me, especially my wife. She was the one who first suggested I let it all slide and focus on the journey. And so the criticism became a motivation: I began to transform that negativity into positive aspects, into something that can help you get out of a difficult situation. I responded to the criticism with work on the pitch. And in the end, the results come.”

A DOUBLE RESPONSIBILITY
It’s up to us veterans to explain what it means to play for Cagliari. I tell my teammates what these colors mean to our fans, what impact a win or a poor performance can have on their daily lives. I think of when I was in the stands: so when I scored, I stretched out my arms towards the crowd, it was like a collective hug to celebrate together. Being Sardinian and playing for this jersey is an added responsibility: the fans expect you to fully embody the Sardinian spirit, never giving up, always fighting. These qualities are within me. Even though many other factors, even negative ones, can come into play during a match. I’m still proud to have this responsibility: before, it weighed on me a little, now it doesn’t. It boosts me and gives me even more energy. A turning point in my career? In the season with Mazzarri, I had done very well, but in the home game against Atalanta, I left the pitch amid boos. They hurt me, I burst into tears. Then the season ended with relegation, a terrible blow. At that point, it was probably… Something clicked inside me. I had to have ankle surgery: during that time I worked hard to recover and improve myself. I returned to the field with the conviction that I had to start something different: a growth path with even greater responsibility, dedication, and focus.”

A SIGNATURE GOAL
“The Puskás Award? Yes, of course, I was hoping for it. But it was obviously already a wonderful satisfaction to be in the running for it, to be among the 11 best goals of last season in world football. I’ll hold this achievement dear. I congratulate Montiel; he won with a fantastic goal. Thanks to the goal against Venezia, I still won the AIC award for the best goal of Serie A 24/25: I gave the statuette to my two daughters; they are the center of my life, along with my wife. Seeing them happy filled me with joy.”

THE HUG WITH BARELLA
“I met Nicolò at the Gran Gala del Calcio in Milan, we hugged, and he was happy for me. I love him dearly; we grew up together, we spent many years as teammates. I wish him all the best, both on and off the pitch. He’s a great person, as well as obviously being a great footballer. He proves it every time.”

THE FANS’ CHARGE
The fans’ motivation on the pitch is incredibly strong; our fans are truly our twelfth man. We thank them every day. It’s as if our fans were actually on the pitch with us; we must treasure this and always give our all. Against Atalanta, we once again demonstrated that we’re a vibrant, confident team, physically fit, and capable of fighting to overcome difficulties. We must continue on this path. Losing, in any case, is never a good thing: it means something is missing, and we must try to iron out these aspects to achieve the best possible result. It’s time to give that extra something to achieve victory.

GOALS AND FUTURE
“My loans to other clubs were all experiences that helped me grow and improve, both as a person and as a player. The goal was to return here stronger and more prepared than before. Coach Matteoli was a very important person in my career, in my development within the Rossoblu Youth Sector: I always felt his respect, and I will always thank him. Sometimes he would ‘beat me up,’ but his words were always well-intentioned, aimed at helping me grow. In the future, I hope to achieve as many goals as possible, both personally and as a team, with Cagliari. We deserve important results, and I would like to help achieve them. I would like to one day make this Club’s history. Off the pitch, I hope to be able to help the people around me realize their dreams, always giving them my support.”

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COACH
“I still sometimes struggle to call him ‘Coach’. During matches, for example, in the most heated moments, I can’t help but call him Fabio, like when we were on the pitch together. We spent six years as teammates, even roommates, with the Coach. However, I strongly believe in respecting roles: he is the coach, and he is the one making decisions for the good of the team. He’s a strong coach; he’s trained hard to get here. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”