Chievo vs Cesena preview - Beretta hits the right notes for Santana

Cesena midfielder Mario Alberto Santana believes new coach Mario Beretta is the right man to lead the struggling team to Serie A safety.

Beretta was unveiled as the replacement for the sacked Daniele Arrigoni this week and faces his first test on Sunday at former club Chievo.

Santana hopes this weekend will mark a turning point for his side.

"Sunday's game is like a final for us," Santana said. "The common thought in the dressing room is to get some points in Verona.

"It's a very difficult game for us but the only thing in our minds is to claim a win."

Arrigoni was sacked following last weekend's 3-1 defeat to AC Milan, Cesena's fourth loss in five games and a result that left the Emilia-Romagna outfit at the foot of the standings, seven points from safety.

Beretta has experience coaching in Italy's top flight having managed Chievo, Parma, Lecce, Torino, Siena and Brescia, and Santana believes the 52-year-old can do the job at Cesena.

"Beretta has been honest with us," Santana said. "He's told us that we have to fight until the end and never give up.

"We will need to put into practice his tactics on the pitch immediately.

"We need points and we will have to work very hard to get them."

Opponents Chievo bounced back from defeats to Parma and Napoli with a 1-0 triumph at Genoa last time out.

The result in Liguria lifted the Flying Donkeys to 11th in the standings.

Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo will be forced to make at least three changes to the team that beat Genoa this weekend with defender Boukary Drame, midfielder Michael Bradley and the team's leading scorer Cyril Thereau all suspended.

Chievo have lost their last two games at the Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium while Cesena have not tasted victory on the road since December.