Two-year contract for the Tuscan coach who lands in Elmas in the morning and directs the first training session in the afternoon
CAGLIARI. A day to reflect and then the decision: Leonardo Semplici is no longer the Cagliari coach. Walter Mazzarri was chosen in his place. This time the patience of President Tommaso Giulini did not last long. The negative results of the first three days of the championship convinced the patron to change course. Mazzarri had been without a bench since February 2020, when he was sacked by Turin. Diego Lopez and Giuseppe Iachini were also in the running until the end, but in the end Giulini chose another Tuscan to whom he signed a two-year contract. The figures? Around one and a half million per season, including bonuses. The coach should land in Elmas in the morning, meet the players in the afternoon and direct the training. The face to face between the new coach and the number 1 of the Sardinian club lasted several hours. They agreed on more or less everything. Mazzarri would have reassured the president by telling him that good results can be achieved with the squad available. Concept explained by Giulini two days ago. The new helmsman has a strong, combative character. The same that hopefully will convey to a team that appeared too lowly at the start of the season.
The day. The delay was broken yesterday morning after a thoughtful night. The words spoken by the president on Sunday evening, when he had invited not to blame Semplici, seemed accommodating, almost an indirect confirmation of the coach. Evidently, in the talks we had with the sporting director Stefano Capozucca, a broader analysis was made and in the end the decision was made. Capozucca himself communicated the exemption to Semplici (via also the assistant coach Consumi, the athletic trainer Fabbrizzi and the technical collaborators Casoni and Rubicini), leaving him stunned. The coach did not expect it, he took note, went to Assemini to say goodbye to the team and shortly after took a plane to return home. A point in three games, the nine goals conceded, but above all the way the defeat with Genoa matured, they played against the coach who had already been questioned in the summer. Juric was contacted in June and then chose Torino. The testimony that perhaps the company did not have full confidence in Semplici. Confirmation is the “lightning” exemption.
Other names. For many hours the most popular profile was that of Diego Lopez (from years of home in Sardinia), but it would have been the third time on the Cagliari bench. Perhaps this did not work in his favor. Iachini was also on the list, while Ranieri remained an unfulfilled fan’s dream. Fabio Liverani and Rino Gattuso, on the other hand, have never been contacted by the company.
Jolt. After having had infinite patience with Di Francesco last season, this time the step was taken immediately. A clear message to the team, to which the president had said: “You must have an obsession with victory from the moment you get up, until you go to sleep.” An “elegant” way to say pulling out … Mazzarri finds an environment that is all in all serene, ready to make himself available. The company is convinced that it has made an excellent market and that it has strengthened its staff compared to last year. This means that the goal is a peaceful salvation, and then maybe take away some satisfaction. Now the word goes to the field.
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