Cagliari vs Genoa preview - Zeman reveals Barcelona link
Posted Saturday, November 08, 2014 by PA
Zdenek Zeman this week revealed he was offered the chance to bring his brand of uncompromising attacking football to Barcelona, but instead he finds himself preparing Cagliari to host Genoa.
The maverick Czech tactician has spent the last 30 years travelling around Europe instructing players to focus on scoring goals at the expense of defending and it appears that philosophy captured Barca's attention.
"Years ago, I was contacted by Barcelona," the Cagliari coach told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I talked to them but we could not come to an agreement."
It was put to him that the Catalans were perhaps unconvinced by his failure to win a major trophy.
"Winning is not important," he added. "All a coach should worry about is improving the players at his disposal."
Lorenzo Crisetig and Victor Ibarbo are both suspended for Genoa's trip to the Stadio Sant'Elia while Francesco Pisano, Ciro Capuano, Daniele Dessena and Antonio Balzano are sidelined through injury.
Giannis Fetfatzidis, Tomas Rincon, Sebastian De Maio and Armando Izzo remain on the treatment table back at the Marassi but Genoa boast two former Cagliari favourites who are in fine form before their return to Sardinia.
Italy international Alessandro Matri has scored five goals in nine appearances and his colourful strike partner Mauricio Pinilla has prospered since moving to the mainland in the summer.
The well-travelled Chilean, formerly of Inter Milan, Hearts and Sporting Lisbon, said: "It was at Cagliari where I enjoyed a career revival and I'm looking forward to seeing my old team-mates.
"It will be a beautiful, but tough, match. Hopefully we'll score loads of goals there."
Three consecutive wins have boosted Genoa into contention for a top-three position and they could dislodge Lazio from the final Champions League berth with victory at Cagliari, who are currently down in 15th.
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