Only president Tommaso Giulini goes to the post-match interviews, on behalf of all of Cagliari, after the fourth consecutive defeat, which came at home to Lazio. A rare case: the president had not spoken since the relegation, after the match against Venezia.
"I'll put my face to it: today both the coach and the boys preferred not to speak, because the disappointment is very strong", was his explanation after the 1-3 draw with Lazio. «During the week the match was prepared very well, there was the desire to reverse the season and it's a heavy blow. It is the first time that the coach prefers not to talk and already think about the next match. We will resume on Monday instead of Tuesday, then the coach and the players will evaluate whether to withdraw. The Frosinone match changed the balance a bit and brought about the disappointment that followed that terrible week."
Giulini also talks about how Cagliari handled the post-death of Gigi Riva: «With Torino we weren't even lucky with Lapadula's chance in the 93rd minute, then a disarming performance in Rome that we took with us. When the fear of letting the main objective slip away takes over, you have to be good at not bringing it onto the pitch: unfortunately today I saw a scared team. We must not bring the fear of another relegation onto the field: we must emerge as men, facing these fourteen battles."
Ranieri armored
Giulini excludes that Cagliari could think of a solution other than Claudio Ranieri on the bench: «He is the one who, more than anyone else, can get us out of this situation, and I'm not talking about what he did thirty years ago or last season . The whole environment is convinced that the coach and the staff will get us out of this situation. He said that this would be his last club team and no one, not even our fans, cares more about this salvation: after the career he has had he certainly doesn't want to end it with a negative event." And again: «The trust in the coach and his team is total, there is no doubt that Ranieri will be the coach until the end regardless of the next few days. It's not even up for discussion if we were to lose in Udine and the next one, even if we were to be relegated. And not as a matter of gratitude."
On the team: «We are paying for a lot of individual errors and most of the players are performing below expectations, then I don't want to name names. The public supported us until the end, cheering us on, and we have an even greater responsibility to reach our goal." The problem, for the president, «is mainly one of the head. Most of the players, both new and existing, are performing below expectations. Four-five players are giving everything they could give, see the goalkeeper. They must take responsibility and follow the coach."
The market
Giulini assures: «I satisfied all the requests with what the coach wanted in terms of experience: bringing two players he had at Samp, two experienced players, two strikers, and capitalizing on the club by investing in young players who give Cagliari a future» .
Appeal to unity
The president continued: «We must all remain united, without drafts and without anyone having the presumption of knowing more than their coach. And by putting the team in front of its responsibilities, as I do today. But I see unity around this team. If the problem is to put a safety bonus I will evaluate the request, but I don't think it is an economic question."
The recall
«Many thought that salvation came through divine grace, because we have Ranieri, because important players arrived and because of the enthusiasm of the victory in Bari. However», warns the owner , «if you don't put malice, presumption and unscrupulousness, which depends on the manager and the players, you end up being afraid. The only message I can give is this: let's keep the fear this week, this team must not and does not deserve to be relegated. We have to get to the match putting everything on the pitch and not going in with fear. We have to live three months for salvation, there is no room for anything else: from two-day trips to girlfriends, maybe just accompanying the son to school in the morning. We thought it would be simpler, but that's not the case: today there is a greater chance of relegation."