The Cagliari coach after the match against Empoli: “An inexplicable step back, there is a lot of work to do”
CAGLIARI. Always problems in defense: every game at least two goals conceded. And for the first time Cagliari did not score. The rossoblu team has the second worst rearguard in the league with thirteen goals on the passive. And now it is penultimate in the standings: Cagliari and Salernitana are the only teams that have never won. In all, three defeats and two draws. Around the corner is the away match with Napoli. Today immediately a confrontation between Mazzarri and the team announced by the coach himself in the very heavy post-match atmosphere with Empoli: no player spoke after the match.
Disappointment also among the fans: the curve responded with whistles to the applause of the players. And he challenged athletes and president. For Mazzarri the recipe is inevitable: “there is a lot of work to do”, he said at the end of the race. A step back from the well-played and almost won (but in the end drawn) match with Lazio. With Cagliari who, called to set up and build the game, instead had to admire an Empoli who did it in his place.
Perhaps the difference with the promising match in Rome is all here: with Lazio, Cagliari could wait for the opponent and start again. While with Empoli he was called to do something more: control the midfield immediately, take the initiative and try to put Keita and Joao Pedro into action with continuity. He did not succeed. A little for the merits of Empoli. A little because the characteristics of the players in the squad, especially in the median, do not favor ball possession and dribble. Mazzarri is called upon to find solutions immediately.
«It is not easy to explain the difference between the two tests – he said at the end of the match – We must give great credit to Empoli. Maybe in Rome we spent a lot of nervous energy, today we paid for it. We were cumbersome, we were certainly not the same as in the match against Lazio. Maybe we felt a little pressure to play at home, I’m sorry for the public who supported us with great warmth. The team was heartbroken, which is a positive sign, it shows the involvement of the boys ».
The coach will be able to count on some more training to get Godin, Strootman and Pavoletti back on track, yesterday at half service. Zappa will also return from disqualification. Today immediately in Assemini to prepare for Sunday’s race. After Napoli, Venice arrives in Cagliari: two decisive matches to avoid sinking. (HANDLE).
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