PRESS ROOM | Nicola before Cagliari-Genoa
Pre-match press conference for Davide Nicola. The Cagliari coach presented tomorrow’s challenge against Genoa (kick-off at 20:45, live on Sky Sport and DAZN) at the Unipol Domus.
THE RIGHT PRESSURE
“It depends on how you want to tell it. We go into retreat to prepare for the match, that’s it. I never look too far beyond the week. We need to determine things on the field, showing our desire to do well. I hope there is pressure, because that means you have the fire inside, without which I personally wouldn’t be able to work in my daily routine and then in the match. In Italian football, the term ‘a match you can’t afford to lose’ is often used, but only the game itself matters, and doing well, not so much the label we give it. There are still eleven matches to play, we will earn points and get the ones needed for survival, but I can’t yet say where we will get them. We play every match to win.”
MINA AND GAETANO
“Yerry is doing well, just like all his teammates. I believe he has reached a level of consistency in both fitness and performance that he’s never had before. He is an important player for us within the group. As for Gaetano, he had some small issues, but that doesn’t matter much now: what matters is always giving your best when called upon. I feel that the players are mentally focused in the right way, everyone wants to reach the goal. I can’t wait to achieve it with them, staying focused on the present and knowing that everything I can control, I assess with maximum dedication and attention. And they do the same with me.”
COMAN E FELICI
“Florinel came from a very different environment, both in terms of the surroundings and the technical level. He has worked with the right training loads, and now he is absolutely in the condition to play at least one half. He is a versatile player, capable of playing both on the right and on the left. He is ready, and we’ll see how much we use him. Mattia still has a lot of room for growth: he has great potential. He is gaining more and more awareness of the level of the league, improving his speed of thought and execution. He needs time to improve and show his value. He is one of the few players who came from a Serie B league and is now playing several games as a starter in Serie A. It takes time to gain confidence.”
TACTICAL SOLUTIONS
“Zappa and Zortea are two players who are playing together and could also be substitutes for each other. The flank has always performed well, and Zortea has also made an important contribution in terms of goals. This is the moment when we need to be able to interpret both strategies during the same match: creating space and pushing higher up the pitch, as well as remaining compact and limiting the opponent’s space. It’s difficult for everyone, and those fighting for our goal face the same challenges. But I am convinced that the key improvement is being able to apply both strategies in the same game, and we’ve worked a lot on this during the week.”
THE OPPONENT
“Since Vieira’s arrival, they have improved their performance in terms of points thanks to defensive organization, showing the ability to vary tactically in both phases and in building play, depending on the opponent’s positioning. Genoa covers the field well and is organized when out of possession, while when in possession, they often look to create numerical superiority in the build-up. They have reached an important balance, and it will be up to us to make the most of our strengths to make an impact in the attacking zone.”
THE DEFEAT AGAINST BOLOGNA AND THE SUBSEQUENT RETREAT
“We watched footage and focused on the mistakes. There are details to work on, but we need to improve in terms of focus, the ability to anticipate what will happen, and communication on the field. We interpreted the first half against Bologna well, but now we need to properly combine ultra-offensive pressure with the ability to deny space to the opponent. The retreat was necessary because the week is very short, and we have expended a lot in the last three games. Today, retreats are no longer like they used to be, punitive and with few services: now we have a sports center where we can rest, train, and do many things to improve together. We were happy to do it, to come together and focus on what needs to be improved. The retreat provides the opportunity to focus solely on the match against Genoa, distribute the work loads, and have video sessions that otherwise would be difficult to do. We are focused on tomorrow’s challenge, and I’m confident that we’ll be ready.”
The press conference concluded, as usual in recent weeks, with two questions from two fans who subscribed to the Cagliari Calcio membership program “Islanders,” which offers the chance to experience exclusive opportunities such as attending press conferences alongside accredited media. The questions below are from Giuseppe Corronca and Andrea Demuru, respectively.
In his footballing career, both as a player and a coach, he has had the chance to experience various environments. Once he arrived in Sardinia, did he notice any aspects or characteristics that he hasn’t encountered elsewhere?
“I have been fortunate to experience many things, both as a player and as a coach, and I believe that each experience has its own unique qualities in terms of the environment, the warmth of the people, the history, and so on. Certainly, Sardinia has some unique aspects that everyone recognizes and that you feel strongly every day: being the team of an entire land and its people, both those who live here and those who are scattered across Italy and the world. It gives you a strong sense of responsibility and pushes you to give your best and even more. I’ve always said this, and I will continue to emphasize it, because it’s what I feel. It’s a feeling I had even from afar, and that’s what convinced me to embrace this adventure.”
“Even in the less positive moments, and particularly after defeats, he always focuses on the improvements made and highlights the positive aspects. Is this the way to get the players back on track quickly and maintain the team’s identity?”
“I’ve always said that for me, mistakes should never be highlighted merely to point fingers or assign blame to an individual. Similarly, dwelling on mistakes or difficulties without a positive mindset doesn’t help improve or grow. It’s different if it’s a starting point for working on and correcting those mistakes. Our identity must be that of a team that doesn’t give up, that firmly believes in the possibility of achieving results, of overcoming obstacles. And this can only be done if you are mentally focused on your abilities, your values, and the work you’re putting in, not merely on the difficulties, which are a natural part of a season, especially if, as in our case, you’re fighting for a goal like survival.”
