Ahead of facing Genoa, Cesena Coach Mario Beretta reflects on his players’ nerves and confirms that future Grifone Steve Von Bergen won’t be playing.
Ahead of facing Genoa, Cesena Coach Mario Beretta reflects on his players’ nerves and confirms that future Grifone Steve Von Bergen won’t be playing.
The bottom of the table Cavallucci Marini go into Week 32’s midweek test at the Luigi Ferraris with the Grifoni in sight as the first team to catch in the fight for survival, as Alberto Malesani’s side currently occupy 17th place.
However, that three-place gap to the Rossoblu is matched with a 15-point deficit and, without a win in 13 League games, Coach Beretta is aware of the task that lies ahead in trying to get a positive result on Wednesday.
“It will be tough but we have to play as freely as we have in these last few games, for sure,” he told the gathered Press on Tuesday.
“Our goal is always to look for that victory for Cesena that has been missing for too long. Genoa is a team that has disappointed, they have important players, but are involved in the fight for survival.”
Beretta was asked about his players’ mindset going into the game and if they were nervous.
“I do not like to use the phrase that we fear Genoa, but they are a team with great players, so we need to play carefully, because the Ferraris is never easy to play at.
“I’m not ashamed to say that we fear an opponent, fear can be a stimulus to maintain vigilance.”
Beretta also confirmed a particular piece of team news ahead of the trip to Marassi, that defender Von Bergen would not be playing.
The Swiss centre-back confirmed a couple of days before the weekend’s game with Bologna that he had in fact agreed to join Genoa in the summer on a Bosman, but his absence against his future employers tomorrow, says Beretta, is not related to this.
“Steve has a muscle strain and will not be summoned considering that in a few days we will have another game.
“If he was in good condition then I would have played him no problem, because he is a man and a serious professional and I am convinced that he will give his all for Cesena until the end of the season, as indeed he did last Saturday against Bologna.
“The fact that he revealed his future destination is evidence only that he does not want to hide behind anything. In Italy, similar behaviour is still abnormal.”