Assistant Andrea Tarozzi replaced suspended coach Roberto D’Aversa in the dugout when Sampdoria picked up a 2-1 win over Spezia and felt the Blucerchiati secured a ‘well-deserved win’.
D’Aversa was in the stands when Antonio Candreva ran Spezia ragged in the first half, with one ‘assist’ to the own goal by Emmanuel Gyasi before scoring the 2-0 goal before the interval.
Spezia fought hard to respond in the second half but didn’t manage to score before the 94th minute and Samp could celebrate an important win.
“We arrived from well-played games, in which we had collected less than what we produced,” Tarozzi told DAZN after the match. “Today, it was a different Sampdoria, more concrete than beautiful.
“All in all, it’s a well-deserved win. We hope that our championship can start tonight.
“The defensive phase made the difference; the spirit of sacrifice determines the result. If this is missing, then you struggle. I’m not interested in seeing a conservative Sampdoria, but 11 lads who never give up.”