PRESS ROOM | Nicola before Cagliari-Inter
On the eve of the match against Inter (Saturday, 28th at 18:00 at Unipol Domus), Cagliari coach Davide Nicola spoke at a press conference at the Crai Sport Center, analyzing the key aspects of the game and the team’s current condition. Below are his statements.
THE OPPONENT
“I believe Inter is a tactically interesting team, with a consolidation that has been ongoing for some time. They have the ability to play short with the goalkeeper, almost inviting you to press them like in a game of cat and mouse. We will need to be good at managing the moments of the match. It’s a team that knows how to build in different ways and changes its structure with disarming ease, accepting numerical equality without any problems. Their players know each other inside out. This has to be a game that energizes and rewards us, but knowing that we need to do what we know, only much better, and at a consistently higher level. I’m convinced the boys will give their all: we need to be both qualitative and quantitative, and understand the moments when we need to be decisive and determined.
POSSIBLE TACTICAL CHOICES
“Two strikers from the start? We’ve already done that, and the players know well how to develop the play depending on the opponent. We need to keep the energy and enthusiasm high, but also focus on what we do well, improving it. At the same time, we are working on areas that need improvement. It’s important to feel the need to produce results: so far, we’ve sought and built good performances, but now we need to do more to turn them into concrete results and bring home what we’ve earned and deserved.” Gaetano? “Granting trust in the players also means respecting their characteristics. Gianluca needs to work and stay calm, because he will achieve what everyone expects from him. Marin plays as an attacking midfielder during the match by dynamic necessity, but we need to maintain the right balance, and that is not his natural role. Expectations? I always have expectations for my players, and I place my trust in them. The important thing is that the pressure and expectations don’t become negative. Piccoli, Gaetano, Luvumbo: they are all building their own numbers now. None of them come from a series of seasons as protagonists at the highest levels; some are just approaching the moment where they must take on responsibility for the first time in their careers. The same goes for Felici: patience and trust are required, because only gradually do you move from being a player expected to surprise to one asked to take on certain responsibilities for the benefit of the team. At the same time, it’s important to constructively point out any mistakes or imperfections to improve along the way and keep giving more.
ALWAYS PLAYING TO WIN
“We want to earn points against everyone. This is a match that forces you to do something extra; we are facing what, for me, is the best team in the league. We will need a strong performance, with aggression and determination, but without ever stopping trying to play. We need to be practical in the decisive moments.”
ALMOST EVERYONE AVAILABLE
“Only Zito is missing; everyone else is available. Apart from Jankto, who I haven’t had the chance to use yet—not because he lacks quality, but perhaps because I prefer players with different characteristics—everyone has been called into action. It’s normal that some players get more playing time than others, especially because the club’s philosophy is to maximize their value, but regardless of that, they deserve the minutes they’re getting because they’re showing quality. Some young players need to bring us that energy, mixed with the experience of the older ones.
As for the attack, if we look at the chances created, sometimes the right choice was missing. This season, we’ve had the opposing goalkeeper as MVP six times. Talking about hunger is exactly this: having something inside that bothers you because you’re not getting what you want. We need more quality in the final pass and in finishing, but the players’ work rate is not lacking. Pavoletti? He’s a great resource, both as a starter and as a substitute. He deserves praise for his professionalism, his willingness to help others, and his ability to make a difference when called upon.”
THE MATCH AGAINST VENEZIA
“In Venice, we approached the match with the right attitude, but it’s not enough to just do things well: you need to be more practical and hungry to turn the key moments in your favor. We have to demand more in terms of mentality because those moments count. The second goal we conceded is an example: we could and should have done better. The defeat should make us frustrated, but only after the game, not during it.
