After Bari they expected a signal from Ranieri and the Roman coach's words were exactly what he wanted to hear.
«After having played little or nothing in the playoffs, a professional must inevitably do assessments», the premise of Leonardo Pavoletti, from the Cagliari training camp in Saint Vincent, in Valle d'Aosta.
«If that was the playing time in B, what would it have been in A? So, before starting the training camp, I spoke to the coach and he was very clear with me. He wants me here as a man and as a professional. It doesn't guarantee me a permanent job, and God forbid. But he told me: “You don't leave second to anyone”. And that's what matters."
The contagious smile behind the desk in the press room set up in the Châtillon sports facility, that goal in the 94th minute he enjoyed a month on vacation.
«Even if what makes me happy – the Cagliari captain is keen to point out – is seeing happiness in people's eyes. Hearing a joke, even at traffic lights, is priceless. It's worth more than raising a cup.'
But it doesn't end there. “We have other stories to write. It costs nothing to dream, but we have to be aware of the fact that in Serie A there are many well-equipped teams and we have to be good at having mental balance, something we lacked in the past in defeats, but above all in victories.
The goal, therefore: " Salvation as soon as possible, now it would be crazy to think of something else".