Coach Roberto De Zerbi admits he is ‘in love’ with his Sassuolo squad and delivering President Giorgio Squinzi’s vision. ‘He asked to be entertained.’
Today is the 100th anniversary of Sassuolo’s foundation and the club is going from strength to strength under De Zerbi, winning four in a row before the thrilling 3-3 draw with Juventus.
It was the perfect opportunity for De Zerbi to hark back to his first meeting with Squinzi, who died in October last year.
Coach Roberto De Zerbi admits he is ‘in love’ with his Sassuolo squad and delivering President Giorgio Squinzi’s vision. ‘He asked to be entertained.’
Today is the 100th anniversary of Sassuolo’s foundation and the club is going from strength to strength under De Zerbi, winning four in a row before the thrilling 3-3 draw with Juventus.
It was the perfect opportunity for De Zerbi to hark back to his first meeting with Squinzi, who died in October last year.
“All club owners usually ask for results or the system you will use, but Squinzi asked to be entertained with good football,” De Zerbi told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
“I think we are delivering that and I am proud to have maintained the promise I made him that day. Let me be clear, all coaches work towards a result and that is how we are inevitably evaluated, but I am not yet ready to be a slave to the result, to compromise my values or use short-cuts to get there.”
The tactician has recently extended his contract at the Mapei Stadium and some are already suggesting he’ll be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Sassuolo.
“I don’t know if they’d be able to put up with me for that long! I can be a real pain when it comes to football. I ask everyone not to settle, but to put work first and foremost, even ahead of family.
“My contract extension was not a signal to anyone, but more what makes me happy when I wake up in the morning. I am in love with this squad and working with these players gives me joy.
“I think I’m a coach with some pretty clear ideas and above all strong enough not to let myself get influenced by criticism. I try to convince the players to do what I believe in, they respond positively and that is all I need. My profession is nothing without passion.”