PRESS ROOM | Coach Pisacane after Parma-Cagliari

These are the words of Fabio Pisacane, Cagliari coach, after the 1-1 draw in Parma with goals from Folorunsho and Oristanio. The coach gave his analysis to the media.

FOLORUNSHO, A MAGIC GOAL WITH A KISS
The kiss when Folorunsho came on? I try to connect with the players. I can’t say that Folorunsho is like a son to me given his age, but rather a little brother. I’m glad you saw this beautiful moment. I wanted to be close to him at such an important time for him and for us, given that he was returning after two months. It was a move we practiced in training; we tried it again yesterday (laughs and jokes, ed.). He has these moves, a great shot, and sometimes we even had to encourage him to shoot and try. He mustn’t lose his natural ability and must be able to showcase his qualities within the demands we make of him, which are a bit new for him in some respects.

GREAT PERFORMANCE
I’m happy with my team’s performance. Coming here with several absentees, with so many young players, and putting in a high-level performance for 70 minutes is no small feat. We gave it our all, and in the final moments, we weren’t able to maintain a certain level of pressure, but credit to Parma for that as well. We didn’t want to play with a low block. In the final moments, we struggled to get up the line, and we made some mistakes, but it wasn’t a strategic choice. In any case, well done to the lads, all of them, for their personality and the quality of their performance.

THE ROAD
I don’t know the safety quota, I don’t make tables, and honestly, I couldn’t. We’re taking it day by day, I repeat, and in the short term, we’re building a future and serenity. We’re not looking at others or chasing anyone. We have a margin, but we must continue to push and work. I’m happy because the more the weeks pass, the more our working methodology becomes clear. Today, after 20 minutes, we fixed some things compared to the match plan because Parma was blocking some of our options. I take home the point, the spirit, the fact that we made our more than 1,000 fans proud, who deserved to have a peaceful weekend for all their sacrifices, thanks in part to us. We played with character and courage; we could have lost, but we could have won. In the end, the draw was fair, all things considered. We’re moving up the table, we’re moving forward, working and improving, with the encouragement of our many fans who, even today, worked hard to come and support us and deserve the spirit we showed today.

COME BACK TO THE GOAL
I think in the first half we came close to scoring easier goals from close range thanks to some fine moves, then came the classy move, and maybe things even out every now and then. Had we been without a goal for three games? I don’t think it was a problem, we’ve always come close, and that’s what matters: sometimes things go well, sometimes not so well, the important thing is to never give up and believe in what we do. It wasn’t easy coming to Parma to play like this against a team that’s been on fire for three games. Kudos to the lads who honored our fans; it was essential to do so because we know the sacrifices people make to come away; they deserved a peaceful weekend. It’s disappointing not to have won, but the draw is fair.

LITETA PROTAGONIST
I know him very well, and you know, as I always say, the boys need support and guidance. We’re in Serie A, and you can’t expect everything at once. He’s getting to know the big stadiums and the great game, he’s working hard, and today he had another good performance in a direct clash. He has quality and can become a top-level player, but we need to be calm and careful in our judgments, and not just with him. Today we had a playmaker who knows all my demands, and even though he’s very young, he enabled the boys to get out of the first pressure and his teammates to play the way we had prepared. I’m impressed by the boys’ personality and desire in every way; they were truly excellent.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PARMA
I congratulate Carlos Cuesta; he’s doing well, and it’s not easy because as young coaches, we have a lot of pressure and responsibility, representing the change that’s taking place. We know that in football, you’re judged on a game-by-game basis, and what matters is what you do tomorrow, not what you’ve done so far, so let’s move forward with confidence and hunger.

ZE PEDRO IS ON FIRE
Congratulations to him and Angelozzi for signing him: we’re talking about an incredible guy, a true professional. I was struck by his calm, even when he was out injured. A quiet leader, he lets the pitch do the talking. Even Farioli had spoken highly of him and was sad to let him go. We’re incredibly happy with him, and he’s confirming the qualities we knew from watching him on video and on the pitch.