Cagliari vs Sampdoria preview - Pulga expects Rossoblu response

Posted Sunday, March 10, 2013 by PA

The streets of Cagliari came alive this week as hundreds of supporters joined officials and players to protest against their continued exile from the Stadio Is Arenas, where the Rossoblu face Sampdoria behind closed doors on Sunday.

When news arrived that fans would be excluded from their new stadium for the fifth time this season, due to ongoing safety concerns, a sizeable crowd marched through the Sardinian city - from the Piazza l'Unione Sarda to the Piazza Yenne - to express their dissatisfaction.

The entire board of directors subsequently resigned while club president Massimo Cellino remains under house arrest accused of fraud and embezzlement of funds with regards to the construction of the stadium.

For Cagliari head coach Ivo Pulga, though, the task remains firing the Rossoblu away from the relegation zone and towards a comfortable position in mid-table.

Following a 3-0 defeat at Bologna, Pulga told La Repubblica: "Nothing worked. Then again, this comes after seven positive results in a row.

"I think this was a one-off, though. It came at the end of a run of good results so we need to get back to winning ways again, against Sampdoria at home."

Captain Daniele Conti is unlikely to feature against Samp due to injury while Francesco Pisano serves a one-match ban following his dismissal at the Renato Dall'Ara.

The injured trio of Gaetano Berardi, Daniele Gastaldello and Simon Poulsen miss out for the visitors while midfielder Nenad Krsticic serves a one-match ban.

While his Cagliari counterpart stews at home, unable to witness his club's trials and tribulations first hand, Edoardo Garrone is enjoying a fine start to life as president of Sampdoria.

Delio Rossi's men produced a 1-0 victory over Parma to fire Samp into the top 10 as Garrone took control at the Marassi following the death of his father Riccardo in January.

He said: "The lads are putting in a lot of hard work and are really going for it. We have the third best defence in the league and that proves how much we've improved out on the pitch."

Garrone also took the time to praise former Fiorentina boss Rossi, who has turned Samp's fortunes around significantly since replacing Ciro Ferrara in December

"Rossi has done some great work because the team spirit was very low halfway through the season," Garrone added. "He's a football master and that's clear to see."