Cagliari manager Leonardo Semplici spoke in a virtual press conference ahead of the match Sunday against Milan. He spoke about his team's recent performance, the lineup, and more. Here are his words:
How much will the result of Benevento-Crotone influence the choice of the formation?
"The best team will be on the pitch as tomorrow we face a strong team, perhaps the best in the league. We will not think about too many things, or about the results of our opponents,".
Is it possible that Cagliari will take sides against Milan in the mirror?
"It is one of the considerations we have made, but there are also the characteristics of our players. We will evaluate the recovery of some players, but I have seen great availability. I will try to field what for me is the best formation to face a match like this. important,".
How do you face a match like tomorrow's, given Milan's numbers?
"Following his words, we should stay at home (he smiles), but since we are pursuing an important goal, we know we are facing a training with great values, quality and compactness. To achieve the goal that the boys have deserved: we will go there with great respect but with the awareness of putting them in difficulty and trying to make a positive result, which can be difficult, but we have shown that we are able to put anyone in difficulty,".
What has been the key to AC Milan's recovery in recent weeks?
"We haven't finished our run-up yet, but we know we can try to have our say in this race too,".
Will playing at 8.45pm after everyone else be an advantage or a disadvantage? Is there a hint of regret not having closed it on Wednesday?
"Wednesday we were the first, tomorrow we will be the last, but I will certainly have a peaceful afternoon, without too many worries: we have to think about us, since our future depends only on our performances. Regarding Wednesday's race, the fear of losing she was the host, but we also need to be able to appreciate that kind of match at a crucial moment of the season. We know the path we have taken, we continue with confidence,".
If the salvation ends tomorrow against Genoa, would it make some young players from the Primavera play?
“I hope so, but first I have to think about the salvation of Cagliari. The Primavera certainly has good prospects, but we will evaluate. I repeat, my thoughts are now only on Milan,”.
Given the many races in a few days, is it possible to have the turnover to review players like Simeone and Deiola from owners?
"We are evaluating, also together with the medical staff: talking to the boys we asked them for a last effort, but we will still make the right evaluations given the situation due to the three races,".
Do you weigh the standardizer label?
"That label was your joke, what we have done is there for everyone to see. My forces at the moment are concentrated only on the goal of salvation. We are close but we have not yet made them. Then the adjectives of the journalists there I consider superfluous. I know what I give as a substitute and from the beginning,".
If Milan are to secure 3 points against Cagliari tomorrow, they will secure a Champions League bid. Cagliari are sitting at 16th in the league with 36 points. They are not completely out of relegation zone, so every point matter for Semplici's men in these last couple matches.
