Sampdoria Coach Marco Giampaolo shook off all responsibility for the Antonio Cassano problem. “The club will choose.”
The Blucerchiati’s pre-season has been dominated by the news FantAntonio was frozen out of the squad, but is refusing to accept a transfer.
Cassano and his 99 jersey did not even appear in the squad list handed to the Serie A Lega yesterday.
Sampdoria Coach Marco Giampaolo shook off all responsibility for the Antonio Cassano problem. “The club will choose.”
The Blucerchiati’s pre-season has been dominated by the news FantAntonio was frozen out of the squad, but is refusing to accept a transfer.
Cassano and his 99 jersey did not even appear in the squad list handed to the Serie A Lega yesterday.
“The club will choose,” said Giampaolo in today’s Press conference ahead of the Coppa Italia opener against Bassano.
“This situation was already in progress before I arrived. I did work with Cassano in the training camp, but I am a Coach, not a manager, so the club chooses which players are in my squad.
“What is best for Sampdoria comes first, ahead of me and all the players. The club has guaranteed we will do more on the market and I am sure that will happen.”
Giampaolo impressed at Empoli last season and his team received compliments from Luis Enrique after a slender 3-2 Gamper Trophy defeat at Camp Nou this week.
“I think that sort of thing is only a distraction, even if we saw many good things in that match. We have to focus on Bassano, as this is a game where we have everything to lose. Let us not forget that the result is nine-tenths decided by what we do on the pitch.
“Tomorrow we must show the difference in quality between us and Bassano so we can get through. I don’t believe we’ll be distracted or take this test for granted.
“Luca Cigarini hasn’t trained much, but he will be at our disposal. In any case, tomorrow Lucas Torreira will start.”
Sampdoria are marking the 70th anniversary of their foundation and 49-year-old Giampaolo feels attuned to the club.
“I share with Samp the month of my birth. I will remember a date forever, tomorrow being my competitive debut on the Samp bench.
“The Blucerchiati have an important history and we’ll try to write new pages.”