PRESS ROOM | Pisacane before Cagliari-Juventus

Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane spoke to the media on the eve of Cagliari-Juventus on Saturday, January 17th at the Unipol Domus (8:45 PM, live on Sky Sport and DAZN). This is his pre-match analysis from the press room at the Crai Sport Center.

AFTER THE MATCH IN GENOA
“It’s never nice to lose, so there’s definitely something to review. Analyzing the Genoa game, we saw a lot of things we’ve noticed in the past. There were some mistakes on goals conceded that need to be addressed differently, and I don’t know how much we can work on them because they’re pitch dynamics. Frendrup’s goal was a collective rather than an individual error; we could have closed the gap further and better, while the free-kick goal was the result of poor player distribution and questionable behavior once the ball was in play. The defeat was more severe than it should have been, and this only adds to the bitterness. After the match, everyone was obviously disheartened because it hurts when you lose. However, we shouldn’t make a fuss about losing a match, a direct clash, but the championship is very long, and we need to work to improve our level in terms of balance and personality, qualities that make the difference.”

YERRY MINA’S CONDITION
“Mina is working to get back to his best form. Sometimes you risk playing him because he needs matches to reach his peak condition. Training alone isn’t enough. Choices are never random, and are the result of factors related to the opponent, the game plan, and the players’ condition. That said, Mina can start tomorrow.”

VS JUVENTUS
There are no former or current Juventus players I’d bring into my squad, because more than anything I’m focused on ourselves, our current situation, and what we need to achieve. Today is the time to focus on current events, not fantasy football. In the first leg, we faced a Juventus side that had just changed coaches a few weeks earlier. We’re working to figure out how to limit them. I think we can make our voices heard within our prerogatives. Today, Juventus is more solid, based on the numbers, and more confident. How do you deal with them? We’ll have to redouble our efforts. You can’t expect to get a result against Juventus by giving 100%, but more will be needed: determination, tenacity, focus, and concentration for 100 minutes and more. If we have this attitude, the situation will go our way. Will the transfer market influence us? No, whoever is called up will be called up because they’re capable of contributing if called upon.

MORE ATTENTION NEEDED
“Conceding goals in the opening minutes of the first half, like against Cremonese and Genoa, or in the second half, like against AC Milan, is indicative of a lack of focus. You always have to be on the ball, stay compact, and control the pitch well. These are things you can’t ignore against big teams, but in modern football in general. Focus is crucial, and it’s certainly something that group leaders can pass on to their teammates even more effectively.”

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND GOOD LUCK, MARKO
“I was fortunate enough to welcome Rog to Cagliari in 2019 when he arrived. He’s a young man with enormous human and technical qualities, and when he arrived, he was truly a luxury for us. He’s a player with the drive and characteristics that could have led to a very different career, but unfortunately, obstacles in his path prevented him from doing so. I’ve been fortunate and honored to have coached him over the past few months.”

LUVUMBO’S MOMENT
“Zito comes from the Africa Cup of Nations, he’s a player accustomed to playing in international competitions with very high emotional and physical stress. He’s deeply attached to the jersey. I’ve advised him not to read comments or criticism these days, but it’s important to focus on working as he’s doing, giving everything so that each of us can be confident we’re doing our best. Zito always gives his all. He’s had some physical setbacks in the past, and in recent matches he’s been called upon more. Let’s all move forward together, confident in our work.”

TREPY’S GROWTH
“I know Trepy well, obviously. We’ve seen him vary in attack because he has certain qualities. I think starting from the right to attack the Porto cone, he can hurt the opponent. He has important qualities, but he still has a lot of ground to grow with. We need to be balanced in our assessments, both positive and negative. He needs to be allowed to grow slowly. He’s a player we’re cultivating, like others, and I hope we can find the right level of calm in managing him.”

MIDFIELD TARGET
“We’re struggling a bit in midfield due to injuries. We’re in daily contact with the club, and we know where we want and need to make changes. Everything will be the result of careful and thoughtful evaluations, without any desire to overhaul the squad.”