Marco Giampaolo is emotional about returning to Empoli, but has to wait for “important Sampdoria investments” Dennis Praet, Dodo and Bruno Fernandes.
The Serie A season opener is on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“Empoli is a place where I was very happy and had an extraordinary rapport with everyone, so I salute them all with great affection,” said the Samp Coach in a Press conference.
Marco Giampaolo is emotional about returning to Empoli, but has to wait for “important Sampdoria investments” Dennis Praet, Dodo and Bruno Fernandes.
The Serie A season opener is on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“Empoli is a place where I was very happy and had an extraordinary rapport with everyone, so I salute them all with great affection,” said the Samp Coach in a Press conference.
“It was a lovely page in my life that should be left there. I know Empoli well and the team knows me, so I realise they don’t need much time to settle because they’ve been working on that style of football for such a long time.
“We only just started and clearly do not have the same collective balance, but then football is also individual moments. On paper they have consolidated ideas, whereas we are still a work in progress.”
Giampaolo’s heir on the Empoli bench is his former assistant manager, Giovanni Martusciello.
“He’s a debutant only to a degree, because he was on the bench with Maurizio Sarri for three years and has been at Empoli for 20. He’s well-prepared.”
Samp have been transformed over the last few days with Leandro Castan and Lorenzo De Silvestri heading for Torino, while Dodo and Bruno Fernandes arrived.
“Dodo trained this morning and isn’t ready, the same goes for Fernandes. Luca Cigarini is a little behind in terms of fitness levels, but will have his time. My main doubts are in midfield.”
Praet is due to arrive on Monday for a medical, completing his €10m transfer from Anderlecht.
“We paid a lot of money for him, so he’s an important investment. I presume he’s a great player, though I’ve only ever seen video footage of him. I think the club made a good buy, but you can’t tell how hard players work in training via videos.”
Milan Skriniar misses out tomorrow evening due to suspension and Carlos Carbonero is injured.
Sampdoria squad for Empoli: Puggioni, Tozzo, Viviano; Dodô, Pavlovic, Pereira, Regini, Sala, Silvestre; Alvarez, Barreto, Cigarini, Djuricic, Eramo, Fernandes, Ivan, Linetty, Palombo, Torreira; Budimir, Muriel, Quagliarella, Schick