Collecchio, 29 September 2024 - Coach Fabio Pecchia spoke in a press conference at the Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio on the eve of the matchday 6 clash against Cagliari.

A VERY UNUSUAL MOMENT

“The squad's condition? It's painful news about Ale (Circati): it's a great shame from a human perspective, the whole squad, Club and I are with him. This has damaged our spirit a little, plus some other setbacks. The squad need to find the strength to overcome this difficult moment. The area most in crisis? I have doubts in all areas. There are moments when I have fewer players but no one is adding to my doubts. As a squad and a group, we need to find the energy to face this very unusual situation'.

THOSE INJURED AND RECOVERED

'Sohm? Nothing too serious, we're looking to work on it for another few hours to have him back. When a player takes a knock like that it's different to picking up a muscular problem, you have to be careful. We have Valeri back and Hernani has also been improving once again this week. Charpentier has also worked with the group, we have to take some things into account but there is some good news'.

THE GAME AGAINST CAGLIARI

“What do I expect on Monday? There will be moments when we need to keep the ball down and play, we need to be able to hold our own in aerial duels and clashes and all the nastier aspects. We need to bring our skills to take control of the game. If we manage to be more aggressive on the ball than Cagliari, we can punish them. Our defence? We could go behind, the whole squad will have to help out in defence which can't always be under pressure: the whole side can be better in this sense. Cagliari is a team with big players but their stats don't amaze me. They aren't a young side like we are and they're used to runs like these and managing certain situations. I think Cagliari is a mature side, ready to face anything, the game will be played in the midfield and I want my side to be calm with the desire to play and do what we know how to do. Cagliari are an expert side with huge physicality, coached by a good manager. There's a lot going on outside of the match but it's worth three points like any other and we want to maximise our potential. I think that we will need to use our skills and go out on the hunt for a goal quickly. There will be moments on which the game could turn, we have to be ready to play, in certain moments, at Cagliari's level. The last game at the Tardini against Cagliari? Everyone, the squad, fans and myself remember it. If taken in the right way, the emotional aspect could give us a push, without seeing it as revenge, just as a game worth three points'

THE GAME AGAINST LECCE

“Lecce? We put a lot of ourselves and last season into the game. We put in a good first-half performance, making mistakes in the final ball, we went behind but stayed in the game and insisted on our style of play which was the most important thing. The group were focused on our ideas and secured a result that seemed impossible with four minutes to go'.

IT'S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT

“As I've said, I think that the league campaign is a marathon: you have to see it that way because the run maintains a certain pace and balance and you try to improve on something every game. We're working on scoring, many times, in the last few games, and in the last game, maybe we were a little inaccurate but I've never seen a sense of egoism or individualism. Sometimes, also because of excessive selflessness, we have made mistakes up front. We keep asking the lads to play quickly and go out there and score'.