Pazzini scores 14th and looks ahead for the Derby

Last year in Verona, Giampaolo Pazzini scored his first goal in Serie A for Sampdoria. A spectacular effort, but later equalised by Rigoni and thus rendered a touch bittersweet. The goal on Sunday was an altogether different taste, for il Pazzo and for il Doria. Firstly because it became his 14th for the season ( his personal record of 12 already eclipsed) and also because it allowed Sampdoria to put 3 valuable, timely and morale boosting points in the pocket ahead of Sunday nights Derby.

“In this style of play we alternate a lot between the attacking flanks and it’s actually sometimes a little difficult to be there in the goal mouth a the right time – revealed Pazzini after the match – but I’m very happy, for the result, for the goal and, obviously, also because I didn’t pick up a yellow card.”

“It’s tricky to play against teams like Chievo who are still in a relegation battle – explained il Pazzo. We began strongly, immediately finding the advantage and putting us on the right track. We wanted to close off the match, something we had failed to do in the last couple of games and luckily I found the goal at the start of the second half. Then perhaps at 2-0 we relaxed a bit and we let in an avoidable goal: so the tension at the end was also avoidable, but all’s well that ends well.”

“This victory allows us to prepare for the Derby in calmer waters – admits the striker. Now we can enjoy this victory, that puts us back into a share of 4th spot. From Tuesday we will begin to prepare for the big game. I’m expecting a really tough and intense Derby, my first as the home team. There’s a strong desire among us to avenge the result in the first one, so I’m sure that the team will have the right frame of mind when we take the pitch: we’ll put in a great effort.”

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