Sampdoria Coach Marco Giampaolo insists 'it's been a priviledge to work at Sampdoria this season'.
The 49-year-old returned to Serie A with Empoli in 2015-16 after having spent a period of time out of the top league, but insists he did not return until he was ready.
"I went down to challenge myself, the Coach told Tuttosport. "I did not want to take shortcuts to return to Serie A. I wanted to go down into hell and start from there.
But it was not hell: I found a very organised club at Cremonese with extraordinary players.
Sampdoria Coach Marco Giampaolo insists 'it's been a priviledge to work at Sampdoria this season'.
The 49-year-old returned to Serie A with Empoli in 2015-16 after having spent a period of time out of the top league, but insists he did not return until he was ready.
"I went down to challenge myself, the Coach told Tuttosport. "I did not want to take shortcuts to return to Serie A. I wanted to go down into hell and start from there.
But it was not hell: I found a very organised club at Cremonese with extraordinary players.
"Last summer I went home feeling serene after having had a very good season in Tuscany, and I thought something would happen sooner or later.
"Samp, with [Carlo] Osti, were the first to call me, two or three days before the end of the season to say if [Vincenzo] Montella leaves…
"I did some traveling too. I didn’t enjoy the summer, usually in those months I relax and I'm at the beach.
"Instead every three days I had to get in the car. There’s no regrets, I did a lot of talking in the summer.
"Samp is a great club, team and fans, it has been a privilege to lead training there.
"I found openness towards my work. I do not consider revenge towards those who said I was finished, I had proved it already the previous year.
"I know that next year I have to improve on this season, which has been beautiful: we beat Roma, Milan away, and Inter twice.
"Then the derby, which is unique, especially when you win, and we did it twice. We defeated Torino at home. We hope to beat them again on Saturday. For Sampdoria fans it is a special game, they feel it like a derby.
"Torino have the potential to be big, in attack and midfield. In defence they can give up all of the ball. It’s a different team from the usual history of Toro.
"It’s not that they don’t have character, we’re talking about [Sinisa] Mihajlovic, whom I respect a lot. But they are very Spanish, with great quality, great individuals, always trying to build. Quality and character create an extraordinary mix.
"At one point he was even gunning for Europe. I did not think at the beginning of the season about competing for position with Torino, staying there is a great achievement for Samp."