PRESS ROOM | Coach Pisacane after Torino

These are the words of Fabio Pisacane, Cagliari coach, after the 2-1 victory over Torino, which mathematically sealed safety with a matchday to spare.

SUPPORT AND THE GOAL REACHED
“First of all, we’re delighted because we’ve achieved a very difficult goal, especially considering everything we’ve been through this year. We’ve survived twice: after the match against Verona, after the match against Atalanta, and today with a mathematical certainty. I’m happy with these 40 points, a significant achievement for a team like ours. We’ve always held our ground, even in difficult times; we’ve never given up, and we’ve taken risks. If we’ve done it, it’s thanks to the character of these guys and the hard work everyone has put in.”

THE WORK OF THE GROUP AND THE STAFF
What’s Pisacane’s contribution to this relegation? Nothing, there’s a lot of everyone involved. It’s something shared between the team, the staff, the sporting director, and the club. What I have is just a lot of dedication in tackling the mission I was called upon to do. We had the courage to take risks, weathering the storm while always remaining upright. I’ve always tried to be positive and optimistic, because I believe your head leads you in the right direction depending on your thoughts. Even in difficult times, I’ve always believed. The staff? I have to thank President Giulini because three and a half years ago, he gave me the Primavera team to save us and then allowed me to coach the same group for two seasons. This year, he entrusted me with Serie A, seeing qualities that perhaps even I hadn’t yet seen. I had a huge responsibility. Cesare Natali suggested Giacomo Murelli, whom I knew from my time at Chievo, and I anticipated him because he had so many requests. Then Giacomo suggested Luca Bucci. I was lucky to be able to choose men like him. We did more positive things than negative things and managed to achieve the goal”.

YOUNGSTERS AND CAGLIARI’S PHILOSOPHY
“We survived thanks to a mix of young players and veterans. I said long ago that survival would come thanks to the young players. These are their first seasons in Serie A, they read a lot, they observe, and they need confidence. If you boost their self-esteem, they give you so much. We’ve played nine players born between 2005 and later, which is no small feat. The greatest satisfaction is seeing so many young players, some of whom have come through our youth system. It’s enormously satisfying.”

RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT GIULINI
“I thank Tommaso Giulini. I hope he’s happy with these 40 points and with staying up. He put more effort into it than anyone else. We’ll sit down together to discuss the future, but today I just want to enjoy this milestone achieved with the group and the staff, without ever losing my bearings.”

THE FUTURE
“The future? Happiness doesn’t last long, then we have to get back to work and look ahead. I’ll prepare for the match against Milan because we want to perform to our best, within our capabilities. The lads, on the other hand, will take a break; they deserve it. As for me, we’ll see. I’ll sit down with the club and figure out what to do together. I’ve always said I’m incredibly attached to this city and these people. It’s a place that places a huge responsibility on me.”

THE TURNING POINTS OF THE SEASON
“There were some very difficult moments. I think of Pisa, which was a heavy blow for someone like me because I wore this jersey and I couldn’t accept losing like that. I think the turning point was Roma at home, then Cremonese. There are no secrets or external factors: we got here because we never stopped working and believing in what we were doing.”

FEAR AS A DRIVE
“Fear? Always constructive, as I told the kids from day one. Fear must be positive: it must bring you attention, tension, and concentration, not superficiality or weakness.”

A FAREWELL TO PAVOLETTI
I really wanted the team to say goodbye to Pavoletti with a victory and with the goal we’d achieved together. I experienced it in two phases: as a teammate and then as a coach. When he arrived, I’d already been here for two years, and he earned respect and a high profile. As a coach, I had him for a shorter time, but I found him to be an exemplary professional, someone who never gave up on or off the pitch. I watched his goals and saw how many times I hugged him. He gave me so many emotions. He’ll decide what to do in the future and what he really likes. I’m happy because it was important to say goodbye like this, and the post-match celebration was also very nice.

DEDICATION AND PERSONAL EMOTIONS
“I immediately embraced my wife, my children, and those who experience me every day, those who see my weaknesses and my difficulties. I arrived here in 2015, and since then I’ve always felt a significant responsibility towards this jersey and this city. For me, Cagliari is something special. I dedicate this survival to the Rossoblu people, to my family, and to all the people who have been close to us. If I had to choose one word for this season, I’d say dedication. I’ve truly seen it from everyone.”