Sergio Demuru – Cagliari correspondent for Tuttosport since 2007, following Cagliari Calcio since 1997 having collaborated with other newspapers such as Il Giornale di Sardegna and Sardegna 24.
There are many and varied components needed to carry out a targeted project, which allows a team to maintain the category. However, one is fundamental and which certainly cannot be ignored and that is to tighten the shutter on your door as much as possible.
Collecting fewer goals than competitors is already a good start. At the moment Cagliari, in seven matches played, have conceded eleven goals. If compared to those of the other “dangerous” teams, it is not exactly a catastrophic situation, despite the poker that Napoli gave to the rossoblù no later than a month ago.
Scrolling through the particular ranking you can see how even Atalanta conceded more (13), not to mention Lazio, third in the standings, who conceded eleven goals like Cagliari. The difference is made by the goals scored. Mister Nicola’s rossoblù have scored a paltry five goals so far. Only Lecce did worse (3). The fact remains that if you earn little, then the road, if not downhill, becomes less difficult. And we can see, at least in the latest releases, the hand of the technician in wanting to record the backward department.
The predisposition for mutual help has improved, the diagonals are carried out almost mechanically and with reasonable punctuality. After all, being able to withstand the impact of an attack like that of Juventus, reducing the dangers to Scuffet’s goal to a minimum, is not trivial. It means that the entire back line applied itself and entered the field with the right determination. And it cannot be an isolated case. When you notice a certain harmony in closing down opposing initiatives, it is a sign of painstaking work by the coach. Who daily talks about his tactical ideas.
The four-man line at the Allianz Stadium (Zappa, Mina, Luperto and Obert) erected a wall that did not offer the opponents a side and Mina, in the duel with Vlahovic, highlighted his peculiar characteristics as a born fighter . Even Obert, who had limited playing time during the season, confirmed the progress he had shown in his outings with Slovakia, his national team. Zappa also improves the defensive phase, he who in previous seasons had shown deficiencies in marking. Luperto, on the other hand, is the security in his area of expertise and works hard to double up on his teammate in difficulty. While waiting for Palomino’s condition to improve, he will necessarily have to adapt to the schemes. In short, the current Cagliari, in defense, is a mix of components that together form an almost perfect orchestra.
Now continuity in performance must be sought. It’s not enough to get excited in front of the most famous teams in the category, it’s necessary to keep the level of concentration (and self-esteem) high even with more accessible teams.