Fabio Quagliarella is prepared to have ‘all eyes on’ Sampdoria as they face Inter this weekend and he underlined his lack of sleep regarding the possibility of relegation.
The 39-year-old Italian veteran has finally started to slow down in Liguria, scoring only four goals and providing three assists in 33 Serie A appearances this season. He has 181 goals in Serie A, putting him 14th in the all-time top scorer rankings, just behind Lazio star Ciro Immobile.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Quagliarella first discussed the upcoming match against Inter.
“We know that everyone will be watching us, those in Milan and Reggio Emilia will be the two most watched matches, San Siro will be packed.
“We know we’re playing against a great team, we know Inter’s strength, but we saw against Fiorentina what it means to play with or without pressure. The head rules, we are and will be mentally light.”
He touched on his and Sampdoria’s difficult season. The team currently sit 15th with 36 points.
“The numbers don’t lie, but it’s also true that I haven’t played with consistency, and the chances of scoring diminish. I’ve always been quiet, I can’t expect to play 38 games, but I was also content to play four minutes in Verona, or two in the derby plus the extra time.
“At a certain point we were in such a condition that all we had to think about was steering Samp’s boat into port. We had so many injuries – two out of all, Damsgaard, but above all Gabbiadini – and in January, apart from Rincon, the new ones stuck. And then the corporate issues…”
The 39-year-old Italian striker reflected on his long career.
“A path that starts from afar. You can’t say at a certain point, in the next two years I’ll be careful here and there. You need dedication and professionalism. With increasing commitment, if you give up then on the pitch the youngsters fly over you.
“This year I’ve worked on my upper torso, I’ve put on two to three kilos of muscle to keep up on the pitch. The secret is to always train to the maximum, as if you were going to play on Sundays.”
The Sampdoria veteran commented on his leadership skills and how he helps the team.
“You’d have to ask my teammates. I prefer to set an example on the pitch, everyone is good with words. In training I sometimes get angry. But if you don’t try a shot there, how can you do it on Sunday?
“Trivial example: without working on the left, how could I have made that opening for Sabiri? Apart from certain players, a forward who only has one foot for shooting in my opinion is half a striker. Football is made up of moments, if you lose them, they eat you up.”
Finally, Quagliarella commented on his future and a possible contract renewal. His current deal expires at the end of next month.
“I had already spoken to president Lanna and the lawyer Romei, but at that moment there was only avoiding relegation to think about. For months I struggled to sleep.”
#Sampdoria, #Quagliarella: 'Con l'#Inter non possiamo fare figure di m… Rinnovo? Pensavo solo alla salvezza, mi ha tolto il sonno' #InterSampdoria https://t.co/7DGKupVXUq pic.twitter.com/YSXAdad6gH
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) May 20, 2022
Legend