Roberto Muzzi at “Il Cagliari in diretta”

The technical coordinator of the U19 and Under-18 teams, Roberto Muzzi, spoke on Radiolina’s ‘Il Cagliari in diretta’ programme. Below is an extract of his statements:

COMBATIVE ATTITUDE
“Cagliari’s attitude is combative: the Serie A championship is difficult, but even in the victory against Bologna I saw a team fighting until the last minute. A team that has shown that it wants salvation at all costs, this is the right spirit. This is the same spirit that characterises the Primavera, after all there is a strong connection with the first team. In addition to the sporting results, with the Primavera on the verge of the play-offs at this stage, our job is to help the boys grow as best we can: the call-up of Kingstone and Vinciguerra last Sunday was a great satisfaction. There are other youngsters who are growing, including Idrissi who is on the U19 national team’s roster’.

THE U19 GROUP
“The Primavera is an exceptional group, we have a great coach like Fabio Pisacane, who knows how to involve everyone. We have many very interesting youngsters for the future. Coach Ranieri has shown that he cares about them, the boys often train with the first team. Young people have to know how to wait, they need calm and patience. The integration is gradual. We hope there will be an opportunity to make them debut in the first team”.

COACH PISACANE
“Pisacane is not a surprise because already when he was on coach Liverani’s staff we could see his capabilities. He is prepared, works with passion, has personality. He can grow and become an excellent coach”.

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH
“Compared to when I was young, football has changed a lot: there are so many foreigners, large rosters, it is more difficult for youngsters to arrive. The leap between Primavera and first team is very big, even if in Italy we sometimes need more courage. Courage that Mister Ranieri does not lack. Prati, for example, 2003, is now a permanent fixture in midfield. There is Luvumbo, who is doing crazy things this year, Obert, Desogus. The coach knows how to manage them, he knows when the time is right to launch them”.

IN MEMORY OF MAZZONE
“Coach Mazzone? I see similarities with coach Ranieri. Always direct, so much passion, coach Mazzone also paid a lot of attention to the growth of young people. Lovers of dialogue, always ready to give the boys useful advice for their development. When I played for coach Mazzone’s Roma I had great champions in front of me but I still played. When I went to Cagliari he told me it would be an important opportunity and so it was”.

CAGLIARI MEMORIES
“I arrived at Cagliari recovering from a meniscus injury but Tabarez reassured me by telling me that as soon as I was well with him I would play. When I wore the 11 I knew what it represented at Cagliari. I asked Riva for permission before taking it, he said yes, because I deserved it. For me it was an enormous responsibility: he had worn it, I had to honour it. The first goal was a huge emotion, but every goal excited me. It was my way of returning the affection the people gave me. The Cagliari fan is like that: attached to the team, he gives unconditional love. It’s a heavy jersey, you have to sweat it, it represents an entire island. Cagliari gave me everything. And even when I left, the bond was never broken. I knew that one day I would return: I thank President Giulini who after 23 years has given me this opportunity”.