Collecchio, 20 March 2026 – Comments from coach Carlos Cuesta during the press conference ahead of matchday 30 of Serie A against Cremonese, held in the Press Conference Room at the Mutti Training Center in Collecchio.
WITH EVERYTHING WE’VE GOT
“For tomorrow, Frigan, Pontus (Almqvist, ed.), and Cremaschi will be unavailable, as you know, due to his injury. We hope he is able to recover from it as soon as possible. Bernabé is also not yet physically ready, and Delprato is suspended. The others are available, and we will be taking Mena Martinez with us. Everyone is very clear about what we need to do tomorrow. We head into every game the same way, with awareness of the opponent’s strengths, their abilities, and awareness of their desire to change the dynamics with a new coach and fresh ideas, hoping to take points. We know how to approach the game: with humility, determination, skill, and doing everything in our power to secure the result. I want to assure the fans that we will give it our all to make them proud. We would love to have their support, as we have during the last 29 matchdays. I promise we will give our utmost effort. With everyone united, with care, passion, and hardwork, we can ensure it will be a great game. We never go into games with the standings in mind, we focus on what will help us get the result. Tomorrow, we will be prepared to do the right thing, and the players will give their all to play the game the way we want. How will the match unfold? We don’t know. Football, like life, is uncertain. We must feel comfortable with that and guide it in the right direction. This match is worth three points, and we want to look at it like any other match. Even if we win, the objective isn’t fully achieved, because the the table says otherwise. We need to prepare well, focus on displaying a great performance, and then fight for that result wholeheartedly. This is always part of the process for doing things the right way. Our focus now is fully on tomorrow’s match.”
CIRCATI AND SUZUKI’S NATIONAL TEAM CALL-UPS
“Every player has their own personal ambitions, desires, and goals. But for a national team call-up, there’s only one way to achieve it: first be the best you can be, then do the right things on the pitch. Ultimately, putting in the work everyday is what makes the difference. You need to improve everyday, and that will bring positive results. Not everything in life is in your control, but at the end of the day, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you gave it your all. In terms of those call ups, we’re very proud. These players know what they want and why. As for Suzuki, his attitude and approach speak for themselves. Mistakes are a part of football and life. Without them, life would be dull, there would be no emotions. My judgment of Suzuki hasn’t changed; I know how much he has done for us and continues to do. I know which players are ready and will have a positive impact tomorrow.”
FRIGAN & MIKOLAJEWSKI
“For Frigan, there is not yet a specific target; he is following an individual program, and as he progresses, we can set more precise goals. We’ll take it day by day, week by week, to monitor his progress and development. Mikolajewski? We always try to help players as much as possible to reach high levels of performance and growth. It’s important for him to get game time in quantity, not just quality. Whenever he is with us, he performs at a high level, including with the Primavera, which greatly supports his development.”
GIAMPAOLO’S CREMONESE
“A coaching change can bring a change in playing style and dynamics, depending on the players called up and how they fit the new coach’s techniques. We must be ready for all scenarios and do our best to guide the match in the direction we want. Countless assumptions can be made based on what the coach did before or in previous experiences, but in the end, football is about players, their habits, and their qualities. They have already given a guideline on what they want to play. The opponent’s characteristics are clear. For me, the main point is improving ourselves, knowing our strengths, and addressing areas that haven’t been at the level we want in recent weeks. Improving these allows us to raise our overall standard. Every new coach brings pros and cons. I don’t know Giampaolo personally, but he has had a significant career, and I congratulate him for that. We prepare for any scenario in the best possible way, using what we have. Regarding the first-round match, we had more possession in the first half, but we couldn’t create much danger; they also didn’t counter much. In the second half, it was the opposite as we had moments of more attacking chances. Tomorrow will depend on the players the coach selects, he has a clear idea of what Cremonese will be like, as he shared in his initial statements. They have players skilled in direct play, capable of linking play and attacking in depth, and experienced. We need to focus on playing our game.
THE WEEK AFTER TORINO
“We approached the week with a level head, aware that we hadn’t done things well. We analysed key areas to improve and especially how to guide match dynamics where we feel most comfortable and capable of high-level performances. There were moments when we pressed very high against Torino; the goalkeeper had the ball with little time. We won duels and created danger, as reflected in the goal from high pressing. We must read the game and have the clarity to do the right thing depending on context. We need that clarity to adapt to the game.”
