Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri targets 52 points for the Blucerchiati, as he prepares for another ‘prestigious’ game against Napoli this weekend.
The Blucerchiati are unbeaten in their last two games, including holding second-placed Milan to a 1-1 draw in the last round.
But Ranieri expects a similar test when the Partenopei arrive at the Marassi on Sunday.
Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri targets 52 points for the Blucerchiati, as he prepares for another ‘prestigious’ game against Napoli this weekend.
The Blucerchiati are unbeaten in their last two games, including holding second-placed Milan to a 1-1 draw in the last round.
But Ranieri expects a similar test when the Partenopei arrive at the Marassi on Sunday.
“Napoli are another prestigious opponent,” Ranieri told the club’s official channel. “Milan were trying to enter the Champions League or even put pressure on Inter.
“Napoli are trying to enter the Champions League too. They’re a team we know and what impact force they have. We must play a really great match.
“They are the ones who have immense quality in so many players. [Victor] Osimhen, [Dries] Mertens, [Matteo] Politano or [Lorenzo] Insigne.
“They are all fine now, they have all recovered. I’m sure they will play a top-quality run-in.”
Ranieri said he expects a ‘determined and angry’ Napoli, who arrive from a 2-1 defeat to Juventus on Wednesday.
“I expect a similar Napoli,” he said. “I expect a Napoli like in the last 20 minutes against Juve, with that determination and anger.
“Not that it wasn’t there before, but it was a great match in the end. Both teams have given birth to the football I like.
“There are three points up for grabs. I want the best in every game. I respect all the opponents; I don’t care who I’m going to face because on that day it may be that they are not at 100 per cent.”
Ranieri’s future has been discussed in the Italian sports pages but the coach said he’s only focused on scoring a total of 52 points.
“There has been a lot of talk this week about the future,” he said. “The club knows how I think.
“I want to score 52 points. This doesn’t mean we will get them, but the target I have given the team is 52 points.
“I absolutely don’t want the team to do like the other Sampdoria teams, that have dropped off during the last 10 games.
“First of all, we are not safe yet. We are in a calm position, the one we set ourselves at the beginning of the season.
But that’s not enough for me, because when we have 26 points in the first round, we must aim for 26 points in the second too.
“Then, if we get 27 or 24, I’ll be fine. But the 26 points must be the main target. All the rest is just talk that is of no use to anyone."