GENOA – Press conference to present Andrea Pirlo at Ocean Park Live. The new Sampdoria coach is presented by Matteo Manfredi and Andrea Radrizzani accompanied by Marco Lanna.
The first to speak is own Blades: “After months and difficult days now my face is more relaxed, but so is theirs (he says looking at the others ed). Today I’m just the presenter, I want Radrizzani and Manfredi to tell you about their project”.
Straighten them up presents the project: “We are happy to finally be in Genoa. In five weeks we managed to save Sampdoria from bankruptcy, a cross that would have killed half of Genoa. Today we are here to present the first steps of our project, Andrea Pirlo coach and Nicola Legrottaglie director of the technical area. We have inherited a company with various crisis situations, a company that has been badly managed in recent years and has been better self-managed since the last board. When I think of Sampdoria I think of the team from the 90s, we have to bring that spirit back to make young people fall in love with our colors. That spirit, that elegance on and off the field, will return as our hallmark”.
Manfredi he adds: “Ours is a plan that must provide for economic and sporting sustainability, but we will do so in compliance with our objectives and the club’s coat of arms”.
Then it’s up to Pirlo to answer questions from the press: “I thank the owners for the occasion. Sampdoria is a great team and I haven’t looked at the category: I grew up with the myth of Vialli and Mancini and playing Marassi has always been very nice. I played my first match as coach against Ranieri’s Sampdoria: I’m starting from here, I’ve had two experiences with two different teams and I’m satisfied with the work done. The experience in Turkey helped me, I started from the bottom and we did a great job playing against anyone face to face. Now I’m matured and more aware.”
And then on the objectives of the next championship he says: “In my career I have always played to win, we know where we start from, some difficulties but theThe goal is to get as high as possibleI can’t promise direct and immediate promotion but dreaming costs nothing and getting to the top and quickly is a goal”.
The new Sampdoria coach replies on Fabio Quagliarella’s future: “Fabio is a friend, we played together at Juventus, we are on good terms but it depends a lot on the club. We have just started, let’s see”. On goalkeepers Audero and Falcone and what his choice will be, he says: “Too early to say.”
On what lies ahead, he explains: “What job will I have to do? The player is one thing, the coach another. Usually you start from the bottom, I immediately went to the top and that’s why I then went to Turkey, to restart and get involved. The Sampdoria is a great opportunity and I hope it will be a great season: Serie B is different but it is a league in which, as in the others, you arrive by playing and committing yourself. The project must be sustainable, we will evaluate it day by day. We must have faith, enthusiasm and work”. Then a message to the fans from the new Sampdoria coach: “It didn’t take much to convince me, it was easy. Coaching Sampdoria is a fantastic thing“.
Then they point out to Pirlo that he was born on May 19, the same day as the 1991 championship (Pirlo was born in 1979). “I remember the Sampdoria championship, I’m happy to be alongside Marco Lanna who won that day. With Legrottaglie we see football in the same way so I’m happy to work with him. Sampdoria is a great challenge, not only for me but for the whole of society. It’s an opportunity to grow, to give everyone a chance to see that we’re capable.” Pirlo adds: “Have I heard from Lippi and Mancini? Not yet, I have a great relationship with Lippi, if it’s needed I’ll ask both of them for advice. The punishments? I’ll help the boys improve, if necessary”.
A question about the Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino cannot be missing. Pirlo and Gilardino won the World Cup in Germany in 2006 as players with the national team: “With Gilardino we are great friends, maybe we could make a derby in the Coppa Italia, who knows. nothing scares me, I always put a lot of energy into it. I made this choice with great enthusiasm. I know Genoa very little, I hope to have time to visit it this year”.
Nicola Legrottaglie he joins the Sampdoria team as director of the technical area: “I am enthusiastic about this ambitious project. My expertise is linked to the technical area: I have 22 years of experience, both on the pitch and as a coach. I accepted with my heart. Pirlo lo we pursued, we had also thought of other profiles but he is the man who convinced us. Pirlo represents our identity. Humility is the basis of our project, we will give our best. We want to be loved by our public. This project is based not on the sacrifice of one but on the talent of all”.
Then Legrottaglie talks about the team to come”We have clear ideas, both those we will keep and those we will let in. We are preparing for a difficult championship, we need a correct mix between young people and experts. We like young players but we’ll need a mix, we’ll work on it starting tomorrow and it’s not certain we’ll finish right away. My role doesn’t scare me: I believe the club’s goal is forward-looking. The manager’s role is that of someone who does everything, at Sampdoria the responsibilities are divided into two areas. So on the one hand there will be player scouting, on the other my role as manager of the technical area which will help the team perform at its best. Will a sporting director arrive? I don’t know, the club will decide.”
