PRESS ROOM | Mister Pisacane after Cagliari-Juventus

After the draw against Juventus, *Rossoblù* coach Fabio Pisacane reflects on the match played at the Unipol Domus: “I’m going home today more satisfied than I was after our victory last year. We displayed qualities on the pitch that we hadn’t shown in the past.” Regarding the final incident involving his Juventus counterpart, he noted: “It could have all ended with a hug.” The applause from the Unipol Domus crowd, the team’s performance, and the development of the young players take center stage in his analysis.

PERFORMANCE
“Leaving the pitch to the crowd’s applause is gratifying and shows us that we have the right spirit. We could easily have lost today—and no one could have complained—given that Juventus possesses strength and financial resources far beyond ours. My team showed the right attitude—the same one they had before the break—and a willingness to dig deep together and accomplish our mission. We must never lose that spirit. Facing a powerhouse like Juventus, I told my staff that if we lost, I wouldn’t be able to fault the lads for anything. We played the match exactly as we had prepared for it. We want to manage a draw better, within the limits of our capabilities; that is an area where we need to improve.”

THE FINALE AND THE CONFRONTATION WITH SPALLETTI
“The final episode could have ended with a hug. It’s sad to see certain things, but if Juventus is worried on matchday six about not winning in Cagliari, it means we’re on the right path. I respect the coach a lot and I understand that today he has to say certain things to justify the draw. We’re fighting for different objectives and Juventus should be disappointed: we played our game according to our possibilities and our objectives. From what they tell me, even at the end of the first half there was a a bit of nervousness. It’s a shame, but it’s there because Juventus has to win in Cagliari and has different objectives from ours. The sending off is the rule: in the event of a mass confrontation the referees have to draw the red card. I’ll have to improve with experience in managing certain hot final situations.

TACTICAL STRATEGY AND CHANGES DURING THE MATCH
“We tried to develop a 4-3-3, doubling the external chains of Juventus, which has quality and speed. Today everyone did well back there, both in the first and second half. As much as you can work hard and insert players to strengthen the external chains, against such strong teams you have to concede something. If Arsenal, who everyone praises, does it, I don’t see why Cagliari can’t lower themselves in certain situations. I applaud Captain Deiola, because he demonstrates once again the spirit that it’s necessary to wear this shirt, returning after eleven days from an injury, even unexpectedly. Rodriguez had received the yellow card and was coming from an intercontinental trip: we didn’t want to risk having regrets in managing the boys. Then, as always, the final result counts and you are judged on that. I believe, however, that whoever entered the race never lowered the quality and intensity of the team.”

MASSOLIN AND THE CONFIDENCE ON THE YOUNG PLAYERS
“We are pleased to have given Massolin his debut today. We had no doubts about him; he is a player with quality who didn’t feature in Inter’s pre-season matches this summer. We need everyone, and he performed well. I am confident we will all improve—both in and out of possession—by working hard every day. The fact that he played a match like this shows he has talent and that we believe in him. We are lowering the average age of the squad even further and demonstrating the significant potential within our group and all its resources. I try not to overload the players with information, but rather give them the freedom to express what we believe in.”

MALDINI AND WINKS
“Daniel is talented and knows that there are people here who trust him and lend him a hand. The results, little by little, can be seen. He must move dynamically and recognize the space: today he did it excellently. I try to put the boys in a position to learn more about the information that matters. Winks has an important path and is already a leader of the team, one of the captains.”

SATISFACTION AND MATCH ANALYSIS
“I’m going home today more satisfied than I was after last year’s win, because we demonstrated qualities on the pitch that we hadn’t shown in the past. You often shouldn’t let victories mislead you, and the same applies when the result doesn’t go your way. I wouldn’t call it a case of ‘what might have been.’ We need to keep a clear head and analyze the match rationally: we could easily have lost, yet there were many positive aspects to the game, alongside others that we certainly need to examine. In the second half, we suffered a bit of a drop in sharpness, but that was understandable given that we had truly given it our all.”

MENDY AND HIS DEVELOPMENT
“Mendy is destined for a top-level career. He has grown day by day since arriving and has become increasingly at ease. Playing up front on your own isn’t easy; you need balance, and it can leave you stretched. These lads—Paul included—need confidence. He is gaining more and more of it, and the results are showing in his performances and goals.”

CAGLIARI’ SPIRIT
“These lads deserve praise for what they have achieved so far. There is no need to tell them to keep their feet on the ground; I know this league well and understand the importance of staying focused. The long break was significant, yet I saw the same old Cagliari side upon our return, even after so many players had been away on international duty. We have a strong squad with great character—a group eager to earn the passion of our extraordinary fanbase. We want to challenge every opponent and secure safety by playing a different brand of football, always displaying the spirit that has defined us since last season.”