TMW
Day of presentations at Sampdoria. The new Sampdoria coach Leonardo Semplici met the media in a conference from the “Gloriano Mugnaini” sports center in Bogliasco: “I arrived to try to reverse the trend of the year. Having said this, I am very happy because I wanted to question myself and for me it is a reason I am proud to represent such an important club with a glorious past. I hope that I can return to those past moments and I hope that I can also contribute to returning Sampdoria to that category that we all hope for.”
What group did you find?
“I found a group with great availability and who are listening to me straight away. The training sessions are few. I like talking to the players, trying and finding the key for each one to ensure that each one gives the best of themselves. It is surprising a ranking like this, the problems don’t interest me because there were some very good professionals before me, but now we’re starting almost from scratch. I’m not here to change anything but to try to give value to these guys. What counts is what we do from Saturday on then and this will be the goal ours: change the championship that has been up until now and do according to our possibilities.”
Do you already have clear ideas about the game system?
“We are in difficulty with regards to the defensive department. I knew about this situation and when I accepted the job it wasn’t so much about the missing players, which is sorry, but I base my choices on what I see in training. The team is been built in a certain way, 3-5-2, 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3, then we will see depending on who I have available to field a team that has an important goal balance we have done but we have suffered too many and a team that wants to fight for any type of objective and must concede fewer goals. Through work and organisation, in the two phases, I hope to make up for these important absences.”
Do you already have a starting eleven in mind?
“It’s clear that I have the basic players in my head, then the pitch will tell if it’s right or not. Now the football is a bit varied: there are the 11 players but also the five substitutions that can change the game in one sense. or in the other. Today the squads are made up of 22-23 players and it is right to consider them all. As I told the boys, I cannot put more than 11 on the pitch and I cannot include more than five but they are all starters. It will be up to them put me in trouble.”
Is the goal to return to Serie A?
“I am not a coach who makes promises but I am a coach who works. If I came here it is because I see the prospect of moving up again. When, the pitch will tell. For my part, there is the utmost desire to overturn this situation which Nobody likes it. I think it’s right to think match after match and focus on the next match. It’s clear that if a coach arrives at Sampdoria, in a situation like this, he comes here to a sports centre, he does it to do his best.”
Spezia is already there on Saturday.
“I tried to take advantage of yesterday’s double and today’s training, not so much thinking about Spezia but about the problems we can find in the group. Then tomorrow we will try to add up the things I have glimpsed. I believe there are situations to be carefully evaluated both on a technical-tactical level but also on a mental level, I hope our public can help us as they always have.”
Do hierarchies also affect goalkeepers?
“There are no hierarchies here. I told the boys. The pitch tells me who starts. If someone gives me what I ask for, he commits, I’ll let him play.”
In attack there are players like Coda and Tutino.
“Just go and read the CVs and you can see that Coda and Tutino have scored many goals. Not just them though. My desire is to try to bring not only them but the whole team a little further forward to take advantage of their quality. To do this it will take a certain type of work. Sampdoria doesn’t lack quality, now they lack a bit of consistency.”
What impression did you have of Pedrola?
“Already last year we could see that he is a player with great starting quality. Unfortunately he comes from an injury, he is recovering and is approaching a condition to be able to slowly start from the beginning. I am happy.”
Kasami?
“Kasami is a player who has made his journey as an experienced footballer. He has a certain personality. It’s clear that I’m also evaluating the possible possibility of putting him on the pitch, I don’t know whether from the start or during the match. And “He is an important player for this squad and I will take him into due consideration.”
TMW – Sampdoria has always struggled at Marassi.
“Marassi is decisive, when I came as an opponent I always found an excellent crowd. Through what we will try to give on the pitch, we need to give satisfaction to the place that deserves it. The boys are suffering now, perhaps also the pressure of having to play in front of but there are many people here who would pay to play in front of this crowd. Those who are professionals dream of playing in front of certain fans, the boys must free themselves to go onto the pitch without too many worries, our fans will help us”
More psychological problem?
“Together with my staff and the director, who are the closest to these kids, we have perceived this difficult situation on their part and through departmental, individual and team conversations we are trying to make people understand the importance but also the beauty of playing in a place like this which doesn’t happen to everyone. Then, in words it seems easy but with facts it is more complex. We are trying to enhance the Sampdoria squad with our work. Then I will also try not to give them the responsibilities that they feel Kids need to think about giving the best of them. We want to go back up and we want to change what has been our path and we have to do it together with this squad of players. If we can find this unity, we and the fans can try to go back up and give us some satisfaction too. first”.
It comes from the ranks, how useful can this experience be?
“I hope because I have followed a path, like all coaches, where I won championships, I was sacked and I was relegated. These experiences enriched me and when I had the call from the club and the director my heart filled Coming to a place like this was important. I immediately had the opportunity to come here immediately and make an impact with my knowledge on a valuable squad. I want to find the key to ensuring that these guys play with the right temperament and the right mentality.”
Excitement to face Spezia?
“I’m excited because I’m the coach of Sampdoria. I have to thank those who wanted me and I’m proud to represent such an important club. I put myself 300% into this situation, in various aspects it’s important to me to do a certain type of I work first and foremost for the club, for the kids and if things go well I will benefit from it too.”