PRESS CONFERENCE | Pisacane ahead of Cagliari-Frosinone

Fabio Pisacane speaks ahead of the match against Frosinone: his assessment of the opposition, possible team selection and the determination to bring the negative run to an end. He also discusses the club’s young players, from Sugamele to Trepy, and the squad’s fitness: “We are playing at home and, after four defeats, we want to get back to winning ways and claim all three points”.

UNAVAILABLE PLAYERS
“There will be no Fadera, who has suffered a hamstring injury, Nzola, who picked up a muscle injury after the game, or Mina, who is also struggling with a hamstring injury. Aurelio has a low-grade soleus injury. Obert, in addition to being suspended, has a knee problem. Idrissi and Felici will also remain at home. We will be taking Prettenhoffer with us from the Under-20 team”.

THE OPPOSITION
“When we analyse our opponents, we look at both their strengths and weaknesses. Frosinone have some important individual qualities, starting with Ghedjemis, but he is not the only one. I also have great respect for Kvernadze: I have been following him for years and have always been convinced of his ability. I am sorry that Raimondo will not be available tomorrow. Last year, several of these players were competing in Serie B, and today they are making a difference. This shows that there are many talented players in that division who need trust and courage to make their mark”.

FROSINONE’S IDENTITY AND ALVINI
“Frosinone have a clear and well-defined identity. We faced them last year in the Coppa Italia and know the quality of some of their players, such as Schmid, who can make a difference. Their wide players are also important, and we will have to be good at taking them out of their comfort zone, because they are a team that can leave spaces. “Alvini is a strong and highly regarded coach. He already was when he was managing Cremonese, although things did not go his way as much on that occasion. He has a group of players who follow him and a clearly defined footballing philosophy, regardless of the tactical formation. His teams have clear ideas and a strong identity: they press man-to-man all over the pitch. “I like Frosinone. They are a hungry team with an internal chemistry that allows them to exceed expectations. I also like the way they celebrate in front of their Curva: you can sense the bond they have built with their supporters”.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATCH
“It is a particular game, but Frosinone must be approached like any other opponent: we underestimate nobody. Some people thought they were near the top of the table by chance, but I do not share that assessment. I do not know how far they can go, but they have shown that they have considerable quality. “We will need energy and the right characteristics for this game. We want to win and must be good at imposing our style of play while limiting Frosinone’s strengths. We are playing at home and, after four defeats, we want to get back to winning ways and claim all three points. We must do so without getting carried away, maintaining our composure and patience”.

THE ROSSOBLÙ SUPPORTERS
“We are just as disappointed as our fans. Going four games without a win inevitably leaves a bitter taste, but we want to thank them for the constant support they continue to show us. I believe that in Rome they appreciated the fact that the team gave everything. That is what we must always do. The supporters can make the difference, and we need their backing”.

TRUST IN YOUNG PLAYERS AND SUGAMELE
“Over these fourteen months, it has been clear that I keep an eye on everyone and everything: I have no problem giving Sugamele a chance. We know him well, he has important qualities and needs to be managed carefully, just like Kofler. He has enormous potential and personality, and he is a clinical player. He represents the future of Italian football and I hope this is only the beginning of an important journey for him. “We have tried to build an increasingly close relationship between the Under-20 and first teams, also by creating a shared space to help players get to know one another and develop a sense of belonging. Sugamele could even start tomorrow. Cagliari must know how to put the common good ahead of individual interests”.

POSSIBLE TACTICAL SOLUTIONS
“When I talk about the possibility of changing formation, I also have options such as Sugawara or Trepy in mind. I have several solutions available and will assess everything right up until the last moment: I will not make a final decision before tomorrow morning”.

TREPY
“Trepy could start from the first minute. In Rome, he gave us greater depth and he is continuing to develop. I know what he can bring to the team and I am pleased with his progress: he is a player who can be an important option for us”.

INDIVIDUAL FITNESS: RODRIGUEZ
“Rodriguez is a player with a strong personality, but he still has a lot to improve. After his international commitments, he lost a little of his rhythm, just as happened with Romano, Maldini and Obert, who had a long international break and felt the effects of it.
“Rodriguez has interesting qualities and, if he can maintain the right hunger, he can become an important player. There are still several aspects of his game that he needs to develop, also because he comes from a different footballing environment”.

MENDY AND HIS DEVELOPMENT
“Paul is a level-headed lad. He started the last two games on the bench as part of a decision related to managing his physical condition: he needed a rest. When he came on, however, he did so with the right attitude. For him, this is the fulfilment of a dream, but now he must be good at managing this moment without ever taking his foot off the gas. He still has a long way to go”.

WINKS’ FITNESS
“Winks is doing well and is fully fit again. He could have played against Lazio too, but we preferred not to take any risks. He is now available”.

OPTIONS ON THE LEFT FLANK
“We still have one doubt on the left. Rodriguez can play in that role, as he did last year against Napoli, but we need to think carefully and understand whether that is the most suitable option or whether it would be better to change our setup. We will assess all the possibilities”.

MANAGING KEY MOMENTS
“We need to be more composed and not carry with us the incidents that have gone against us in recent games. Continuing to dwell on them means being unable to recover our energy, especially mentally. We need to turn the page and focus on what we can do out on the pitch”.