Preparations at fever pitch as 2,000 Doria fans prepare to follow Samp in Sicily

Preparations are running smoothly for Sampdoria ahead of their vital clash in Palermo this Sunday. Contributing to the positive air around Bogliasco is the news of Andrea Poli’s contract being extended to 2014. The young mid-field talent is expected to regain his starting position after missing the last match against Livorno with a stomach virus, which kept him bed-ridden on Sunday. Since Tuesday he has been back at training and showed no signs of fatigue on Wednesday during the double session. The only players missing on Wednesday were in fact Palombo and Pazzini, who will return from national team training duties on Thursday for the hit-out against amateur side Fidentina. With regards to the team that faced Livorno, Stefano Guberti is expected to regain his spot on the wing, while Tissone and Mannini will aim to make an impact from the bench, as they have done very successfully during the last month.

The importance of the match, which could see the return of Sampdoria to top-flight European competiton after an absence of 18 years, was underlined by President Riccardo Garrone when he commented during the week that:

“What presents itself now is without doubt the greatest opportunity that has arisen in the 8 years that I have been President. We went close in 2005, enough to finish one point beneath a team that went on (Udinese). This time we have really earned our stripes and it’s a fantastic chance, so we’re pouring everything into gaining at the place at the table that we deserve.”

The sense of occasion is at fever pitch in Genova this week, as Blucerchiati fans have already pulverised the 2000 tickets available for the away fans section at the Stadio Barbera. They have even gone so far as to charter two planes to make the trip to Sicily. Defensive Right-back Luciano Zauri expressed his gratitude saying :

“For us it’s the best. They’ll make us feel us feel at home, and to see our fans support is a fundamental reference point for us. We all know the importance of this game, it’s a game like all the others, but to leave that stadium undefeated would mean a lot.”

Argentine Mid-fielder Fernando Damian Tissone was a little more mirthful in an interview with local paper Il Secolo XIX

“If we win, we’ll finish our campaign a day in advance, and maybe we can even aim for third spot, if Milan loses.. but I don’t think Genoa will be giving us a hand! Just joking, otherwise there’ll be another mess like after Lazio-Inter. Anyway, we won’t be looking for a draw as playing like that is not our strong-point, as Mr Del Neri has said. We need to repeat the kind of performance we gave in Roma.

I’ve heard that there will be a pretty hostile crowd, in fact I’m sure that they will whistle us every time we have the ball. Personally, a situation like that just spurs me on.  And besides, it’s every soccer players dream to play in a full stadium.”

He also spent a couple of words on his future at the club, stating:

“My wish is to stay here, at Sampdoria. It doesn’t only depend on me, however, as I’m in co-ownership, but I’ll do everything I can to make that wish come true.”