Del Neri’s record-breaking year continues

It was a relieved Luigi Del Neri who fronted the press shortly after his Sampdoria side took the win again, this time over Livorno, consolidating the Blucerchiati in fourth place and realising their fifth win a row. The manager from the Friulian town of Aquilea was more wary of this match than any other, as against the ‘big’ clubs his men have done exceedingly well – whereas if there have been lapses in concentration, it has happened against lesser rated opposition.

“Today’s match was really difficult – Del Neri began – because there was only one result we could accept if we were to continue our dream of finishing in fourth. Everybody had us penned in for the win, but instead we had to fight for the three points. This victory, like the last few the team has won, gives us the belief to go ahead and play the last two matches in the best possible manner. In the second half of the season the lads have always turned up for the big occasion and this makes me confident ahead of the next two against Palermo and Napoli.”

Next Sunday Sampdoria will be in Sicily to battle out their rivals for the fourth and last Champions League spot. The Rosaneri are two points behind, but will have the home-field advantage.

“We have two more matches to play that are obviously to be seen as two finals. However, I have always maintained that fourth place will be decided on the last day of the championship: Now we will focus on the match with Palermo, which we are going to approach will our heads high, without thinking about being able to count on one of two results. We are a team that is able to control a match, we just have to remain positive on the pitch and play with the confidence of a team that has already achieved something very important.”

Del Neri has every reason to speak highly of his team, as they have put together a campaign that has exceeded any previous expectations. At 63, they now have the record number of points for a Sampdoria team, and have won 18 matches, the next highest after the 20 won in 1990/91′s Scudetto season.

“What has happened up to now fills us with satisfaction. At a personal level I have never won five matches in a row, but thanks to these lads, I’ve broken the umpteenth taboo this year. We’re assured of a European place, three games prior to the end of the season, something which in fact has not been discussed a lot. Now we are in position to reach a even more important milestone: we will try with all our might, but whatever happens, what this group have already achieved will remain extraordinary.”

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