PRESS ROOM | Coach Pisacane before Cagliari-Bologna
Press conference on the eve of Cagliari vs. Bologna, scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 PM at the Unipol Domus. The *Rossoblù* manager analyzes the defeat in Monza, his selection choices, and the challenges posed by the match against the side from Emilia: “Sweating for the shirt shouldn’t be a promise—it’s a duty.”
AFTER MONZA
“I have always learned a great deal from defeats, whereas victories can sometimes hide issues under the rug. The match in Monza has been analyzed and addressed; we have a clear understanding of what this team needs. We lacked the right attitude, and that must not happen again. Even Juric did not expect a Cagliari side like the one we saw in the first part of the match—particularly in terms of their ball circulation. We strive to prepare for every game as effectively as possible, identifying our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Match by match, we will aim to manage possession better. We saw progress against Parma and Lecce—teams that allowed us more time on the ball—but we must not abandon our style of play against other opponents either; rather, we need to sustain it for longer periods. And when we lose possession, we must be quick to win it back.”
A DIFFERENT CAGLIARI
“Sweating for the shirt shouldn’t just be a promise—it’s a duty. It’s something that’s part of my own ethos, and it must be part of the team’s as well. The very least we can do is ensure we don’t have a repeat of our performance in Monza. When we don’t have the ball, we need to play with fire in our eyes; we must always maintain the right attitude—the kind that allows us to execute our game plan effectively and represent our people with the dignity they deserve. We failed to do that in Monza.”
THE OPPONENT
“In hindsight, it’s easy to say that different choices could have been made. In the past, I’ve often been asked whether it might be possible to play with two strikers or to field a player in their natural position. Against Monza, however, we generated a higher expected-goals figure than in our previous matches. We were up against a side that, until that point, hadn’t picked up the points they deserved. Bologna is a strong team with many quality players—men who could easily be starters for many other clubs in the league. Their squad is built to consistently rank in the top seven, with an attack befitting an ambitious team that wants to achieve something significant. Sometimes, even an injury—like the ones they are dealing with right now—can open up opportunities for those who have played less, and it can also help in managing one’s selection options.”
TEDESCO AND PALLADINO
«I felt sorry for Tedesco: it would have been nice to have a coach like him in Serie A, who was pursuing a different idea of football. I had the opportunity to follow Bologna in their first matches and, from what I saw, I believe that theirs was above all a matter of bad luck. It’s unfortunate because it shows how much we are all tied to results. Tedesco fascinates me, I respect him and I would like to meet him for dinner one day. It comes close to the idea of football that I would like to pursue, also in light of my training. This doesn’t mean that I don’t respect Palladino professionally. He achieved important results in Monza, Florence and also when taking over at Atalanta. He’s young, but he’s proving to be a valuable coach. I hope he continues to grow, perhaps starting from the next match. I don’t know him from a human point of view, but I think he has important values, otherwise he wouldn’t have reached these levels. They are two different technicians, both deserving of consideration.”
DEFENSIVE OPTIONS
«The ballot concerns four players, because Kofler is also there. He is a valuable boy, he has always given his contribution and deserves an opportunity. It is a heritage of Cagliari and we must put it in a position to grow. The choice will remain open until tomorrow and will also take into account the characteristics of the opponent.”
FADERA, KEVIN CARLOS AND MALDINI
“Fadera has clear qualities and needs to learn how to attack the space behind the defense more effectively. Right now, he’s one of the first players I turn to off the bench, because he’s shown he has the ability to make a real contribution. His chance to start a match will come soon—he deserves it. Kevin Carlos had to step away just as he was hitting his stride, due to a serious family matter. At Nice, he was on the fringes and couldn’t find any consistency. I liked the spirit he showed when he came on against Monza, and I’m looking forward to giving him an opportunity. Maldini has always had the freedom to roam—even when playing as a striker—and he’s capable of covering a lot of ground. He’s a player who needs encouragement, support, and guidance—including from his own teammates. Against Monza, he started out wide in the first half, but when we were out of possession, he wasn’t supposed to stay out on the flank. We shouldn’t be looking to assign blame or find a scapegoat; when the results don’t come, the responsibility lies with everyone.”
THE UNAVAILABLE
«Felici and Idrissi will be absent due to their respective injuries. We are evaluating whether to send Trepy with the Under 20s. All the others are available. Monza’s performance, by type, had never been seen, but even after the elimination from the Italian Cup against Verona and after the match against Inter we were all feeling tired and angry. When you lose you can’t be happy. A defeat can only become useful if it helps to correct behavior.”
