GIAMPAOLO CALLS FOR FOCUS AND MATURITY AHEAD OF EMPOLI'S GAME
On Saturday Marco Giampaolo returns to Empoli, the team he coached for a single season before arriving in Genova, and he goes into the game with the desire to build on what he has achieved so far.
“The fact I’m here at Sampdoria is something I owe to Empoli. We achieved good things in that season. I’m grateful to the president and everyone at the club, where I got the chance to coach some great players. They’re a team in Italian football that does things in the right way. I therefore think it’ll be a tough game for us,” the Blucerchiati coach said at the pre-match news conference.
About Empoli Giampaolo said: “They’re in good form. Yes, they’re coming into this off the back of a defeat, but they played very well in the first half. I was impressed with them under Aurelio Andreazzoli and I still am with Giuseppe Iachini, under whom they’ve picked up a lot of points. They’re a flowing, technical and fast-paced side. They know how to use the ball and play good football.”
With Sampdoria facing a tough Christmas schedule, the coach underlined the need for maturity from his players: “Now we play during the Christmas period, so we need the maturity to keep our eye on the ball. We need results and we can’t betray our principles that have taken us to where we are in the table. We need to keep going as we are, and Christmas is no excuse not to.”
(Photo Getty Images)
