PRESS ROOM | Deiola’s words

Rossoblù captain Alessandro Deiola spoke to the media after the game at the New Balance Arena, where Cagliari secured a 2-1 victory over Atalanta. Here is what he had to say:

UNITY AND SACRIFICE
“Cagliari moving as one? The strength of the team has to be in pulling in the same direction: every single player has to make that extra run for his teammate. The keyword has to be sacrifice. We have a united and compact group, and you can see that on the pitch. Personally, I try to give everything I can to set an example for the others, because if I let my standards drop, the others can lose focus too, and we cannot afford that. That’s why I have to be the first to show dedication and maximum focus. Today I’m happy with everyone’s performance as a team. We suffered together as a team, but we also played some good football.”

THE HEAD COACH’S WORK
“Today, there was certainly a lot of humility from the lads in this victory, as well as clear ideas and hunger. The right level of determination when you want to get results. The Head Coach is good at instilling a mentality in us that we are now showing on the pitch: we have to be good at managing the different moments of the game patiently, putting everything we have into it in terms of our ideas and spirit.”

THE NEW ROLE
“I started out as a defender in the youth teams, but then I was moved into midfield. I played a few games in Serie B under Ranieri. I adapt when needed, and now that there are certain demands, I’m applying myself. I try to make my characteristics available to the team, giving the team a midfielder’s perspective from the back and helping the younger players in general.”

ROSSOBLÙ PRIDE
“My journey? I’m certainly proud of it every single day. Looking at my first registration card, which I signed in 2006, is a source of happiness and pride. It represents work and dedication because behind it there have been battles, joys and difficult moments. Today I can say that I made it, but in football it’s never enough. The sense of belonging among Sardinians? I’m proud to belong to this land and to wear this shirt, as so many great men have done before me. We try to pass that spirit on to everyone who arrives from elsewhere. It makes us give everything, it makes the difference, and the people love it. Are we like a national team? In our own way, yes.”

DEDICATED TO MUZZI AND FELICI
“We dedicate this victory to Felici and to Roberto Muzzi, who has lost his father and deserves all our support and closeness at this sad time.

A MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH
“We’ve brought together a mix of experience and talented young players. They have great potential and they are showing it. Above all, they are good lads who know how to understand the demands of the Head Coach and the Club and embrace our mentality. We’re happy with what is taking shape and growing here, and we’re all working together to improve. How are we experiencing this moment? With calmness. We senior players try to keep everyone focused, while with the younger lads we try to give positivity and encouragement, rather than the stick, as I may have been used to in the past. Fortunately, we have fantastic lads who know where they want to go and what it takes to get there.”

ABOUT THE TEAMMATES
“Mina? Yerry is very important. He’s coming back from a few minor physical issues, and he can be an extra asset for us and will be very useful. We are all important to this team: conceding just two goals in the league isn’t just down to the defenders, but to the whole group’s desire not to give up an inch, and we have to keep that mentality at all times. Mendy is a wonderful lad, and I know exactly what he is capable of. Every now and then he needs a bit of motivation too. Over the past few weeks he made me a little angry, and I promised him a big pat on the back when he scored his first goal, jokingly, but with a lot of affection. Trepy? It was wonderful to hug him again and have him back with us. It was a great joy for everyone.”

FOCUSED ON UDINE
“Making the best start of the three-points-per-win era is something important, but we’re staying focused and humble. We’ll keep working as we have been, because that’s the only way we can achieve something special. Let’s enjoy the victory, but now we have to think about Udine and make sure we reach the international break in good shape.”