Leonardo Semplici warns Cagliari ‘have it all to do’ still after beating Roma 3-2 and catching Benevento in the battle to avoid relegation.
The Sardinians notched up a third consecutive victory, getting the better of Parma, Udinese and now seventh-placed Roma.
Leonardo Semplici warns Cagliari ‘have it all to do’ still after beating Roma 3-2 and catching Benevento in the battle to avoid relegation.
The Sardinians notched up a third consecutive victory, getting the better of Parma, Udinese and now seventh-placed Roma.
“Joao Pedro had a great game, as well as the excellent goal, he really sacrificed himself for the team. Everyone did, we showed character against a strong Roma team, we are happy with the result, as nine points in three games take up back into the fight for our objective,” Semplici told Sky Sport Italia.
Benevento were beaten 4-2 by Udinese today, with Spezia losing 2-0 at Genoa yesterday, opening the relegation battle right up.
“Our energy must be focused on our own performance. We knew the other results and that we had the chance to catch up to the others, we took it by suffering as a team.
“At some moments, we could’ve been a little more daring, but we lost Gaston Pereiro this week and feared COVID might’ve spread even further, so there were some uncertainties in the group.”
Radja Nainggolan was suspended today, but it remains remarkable Cagliari are in this situation with so many big names.
“There is so much quality in this squad, you just have to read the names, but the first half of the season saw them unable to make that quality count. They’ve all shown grit in the past and I don’t know why they were unable to do the same here.
“We had long talks, looked each other in the eye, and realised this team could not lose so often, or at least had to lose differently. We now try to respect every opponent and fear nobody. That attitude has slowly allowed the character to emerge.
“Ultimately, the main job of a coach is to put his players in a condition to express themselves with their characteristics.”
Cagliari were absolutely desperate, but now they have caught up to Benevento and Torino, is there the risk they’ll feel like the toughest part has been done?
“No, absolutely not! I told the lads we’ve done nothing yet and we still have it all to do.”