“A magnificent victory, really great. It was a tough, hard-fought and difficult match. All our boys put a extraordinary effort in on the pitch and it was a real turnaround in respect of the string of defeats we’d recently suffered.”

“Genoa played very hard – continued the President, turning his attention to the rough treatment meted out by the Rossoblu – yellow cards aside, they must have comminted 25 or 30 fouls. Obviously it would be better if there was more respect. But we have patience on our side. I’m thinking especially of that Genoa fan who, in a really childish and cowardly fashion, threw beer all over me from his car window before the match. I was totally soaked. However, that beer I think brought us lots of luck, because on a couple of occasions I thought the ball was going into our net and instead it missed. So I say thankyou!”

“Are we at full tilt for the Champions League? Yes, yes, I think now we can say it. I’m not going to wash this beer-soaked shirt before the end of the championship and I hope it continues to bring us luck. Now we’re heading into all head-on clashes, Livorno aside. On Sunday against Milan we’re expecting a very hard match, but if we can play like this we should believe in ourselves, we can seriously aim for the Champions League. It’s a shame for Gastaldello that he has to miss the match through suspension, but we have a strong defence and a altogether threatening attack. Antonio came off but he’s OK, against the Rossoneri he’ll be there and in the same form he was in this match I’m sure.”

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Prior to last weeks match against Udinese there was much confusion over the reason for Cassano’s absence from the team picked to make the trip to Udine. Del Neri maintained that he was making a tactical decision and no other motivation was needed to justify his actions. As it happened Sampdoria showed great character to come from behind twice to win 3-2. The proof is on the pitch, as they say.

The club has gone to great lengths to assure the media that there has been no breakdown between Cassano and Del Neri, saying that the player accepted the coaches decision calmly and maturely. It has been revealed in the Genovese press that Cassano only asked that no excuses were made or lies told about being sidelined through injury. To add to the confusion Cassano has picked up some soreness in a right knee tendon and had a reduced training regime this week, but Del Neri maintained at his Friday press conference that his tactical choice to leave Cassano out remained the same regardless.

Later on in the evening, the Sampdoria President commented whilst attending a sports medicine event in Genova, stating:

“The Cassano situation will be handled with particular attention because he is an extraordinary resource, an extraordinary asset… and I’d never say otherwise. We are watching closely, however Del Neri is the manager and evidently there is full adhesion to his choices and opinions regarding the team from the Administrator and the President.”

He also clearly responded to the questions regarding offers that may have arrived for Cassano in the last few days of the January transfer window, saying:

“They would have to be well above the 20 million euro recessionary clause in his contract and this is also the desire of the player. I don’t think it is possible and given that the market is over in two days time, I don’t see this offer materialising.”

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