Del Neri to sign two-year deal with Samp
Apr/100
It seems that Sampdoria manager Luigi Del Neri and General Director Giuseppe Marotta have been having a few chats since the derby win and are close to agreeing to a two-year deal. It would be a strong indication that Del Neri is happy at Samp as he is well known for only signing one year at a time. Local Genova press ‘Il Secolo XIX’ reports that the initiative came from the club, showing their support for the coach who this year has guided the team back from 13th to 4th place, and now, one month out from the end of the season, stands a good chance of competing in Europe next year.
The run in over the next fortnight is tough for for the Blucerchiati, as they face the red side of Milan on Sunday in Genova and then travel to Rome the following weekend to take on the table-topping Giallorossi. However, nothing could be a firmer test of their European credentials, so the motivation to take something out of both games will have the team and their supporters sizzling. Unfortunately, due to the violence prior to last weekend’s Derby, Samp supporters will be unable to follow their team to to the capital, meaning the quest to take all three points against Milan this Sunday takes on an added resonance.
In team news, sparkling young mid-fielder Andrea Poli is doubtful after hurting his ankle at training on Wednesday, while Daniele Gastaldello’s 1-match suspension means a competition for a central defender spot between Pietro Accardi and Marco Rossi. The word is it will be Rossi as he is considered to be stronger in the air. Rossi, the attacking pair of Pazzini and Cassano, and winger Marco Padalino are all one card away from suspension, and Cassano, who has recovered well from the cynical treatment he received at the hands of Genoa on Sunday, will want to be especially careful as he hates to miss the matches against his old team.
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Sampdoria 1 v 0 Genoa Highlights
Apr/100
Garrone thanks Genoa fan for lucky Beer
Apr/100
His personal record since taking over in 2002 now stands at 5 wins, a draw and 3 losses. Defeats that burned Riccardo Garrone and just as for any other Doria fan, were hard to digest. The football history of the city has pretty much stood in favour of the Blucerchiati, and now Sampdoria and it’s fans feel like normality has returned. The President couldn’t hide his happiness when he stood before the microphones after the match.
“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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Samp still in the mix for Europe
Apr/100
Sampdoria continue to romp home in the second half of the season, with a deserved 2-1 away win in Chievo on the weekend. After only gaining 1 point in their previous two encounters (Bari and Cagliari), the Doriani were keen to get back on the winning sheet and avoid any thoughts of the slide which threatened to obliterate them mid-season.
Away to the club which established current Samp coach Luigi Del Neri’s reputation, any doubts were slashed in the first minute as Samp started with a tap-in goal to Antonio Cassano in the first minute. Chievo tried to react and it took some fine goalkeeping by on-loan ‘keeper Marco Storari to keep Samp in the lead at half-time.
Ten minutes into the second term and Samp doubled their lead through Giampaolo Pazzini on the second try after his first shot was blocked by the Chievo goalkeeper Sorentino. Pazzini collected the rebound from the save and deposited it in the net to take his personal tally for the season to 14 goals.
Whilst Chievo managed a goal to mid-fielder Mantovani ten minutes from the end, their tenacious efforts – even sending the goalkeeper forward for a free kick at the death – were in vain and Sampdoria returned to Genova with all 3 points.
Other results all conspired to put Samp back in the race for precious European spot, Palermo’s loss in Catania, Juventus really breaking down in Udine and Napoli, Genoa and Fiorentina all sharing points with lesser rated teams meant the Blucerchiati head into this Sunday’s crucial Derby della Lanterna in equal 4th spot.
On the horizon there is the definite possibilty of a lead change in Serie A this weekend. Roma will know on Saturday night if they have the change to usurp Inter as Mourinho’s men play away to Fiorentina in the late game, while the result of the Saturday evening match between Napoli and Parma will be closely watched by both Sampdoria and Palermo. On Sunday, Cagliari have the opportunity to inflict further misery on Juventus, and Doria fans will be hoping that Chievo can cause some mischief in Sicily before all attention turns to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the evening for what promises to be a truly incendiary encounter.
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Pazzini scores 14th and looks ahead for the Derby
Apr/100
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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