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Hellas Verona coach, Paolo Zanetti, spoke at a press conference two days before the match that opens the 14th day of Serie A.

Paolo Zanetti, coach of Hellas Verona, spoke at a press conference two days before the match against Cagliari coached by Nicola at the Sardegna Arena in the match that opens the fourteenth round of Serie A.

The match between the two teams is scheduled for Friday, November 29 at 8:45 PM. Coach Zanetti‘s position is very uncertain after the heavy defeat against Inter, the climax of Hellas Verona’s negative period where they have only achieved one victory in the last 6 matches.

Hellas Verona, Zanetti’s words

A week of important reflections?

“The only thing that matters is the match against Cagliari, what happened shook everyone and this shock should make us bring out something. We went into retreat, even taking away what could be our freedoms. We did it to look inside ourselves and prepare the match in the best way, we need to leave behind the aftermath of the last match. We are here and we can play our championship in a great way.”

Did you take responsibility after the Inter match?

“I ask more of myself, I have to give my best without any regrets, I struggle when I don’t feel like I’ve done my best. We are a team and we all have to work in the same way and make sure everyone gives more than 100%.”

How is this retreat going?

“We will only know if the retreat works after Friday, for sure we used all the time of the day to think about our next commitment, without being distracted by anything superfluous. If we need to use more time of our day and it will be necessary, we will do it in the future.”

In Cagliari, will there be radical changes or continuity?

“I think we are starting from scratch, not everyone accepts these moments in the same way, for example, abroad it is something that does not exist and I had to explain it. I will make evaluations based on the week and those who demonstrate to care about the club will play.”

Is it a do-or-die situation?

“Yes, but not for the position in the standings because we must remember that today Hellas is within reach of the goal and has all the potential to achieve it because if there are teams behind us, they probably have problems too. The pressure is for a target we had set but failed to maintain.

This team has fighting spirit in its DNA, it happened last year as well when we had four points less, but today we feel defeated and down, obviously it bothers us first and we want a reaction that must happen.”

Important direct clash?

“It’s an important match for both teams, we are coming from different moments, Cagliari probably already passed through our moment with a retreat at the beginning of the season. It will be a tough and fought match, but it would have been regardless of the situation, we will go to a heated field where we have to bring out our best, from a mentality point of view we need to give more.

We need to focus on what we have to do and not on what has been done. We must have the ability and clarity to handle the moments. Especially the players who have to go on the field without fear, without thoughts, and give 100% for Hellas.”

Do the players follow the coach?

“There are no players against me or the club, things need to be proven with actions. Personally, it’s agonizing to be in retreat, I haven’t been home since Saturday with a wife and two children who ask where daddy is, but I do it because this mission comes first and I’m not afraid of what will happen on Friday and I try to do my best but for this, I need the team, then we can talk about all the tactical aspects you want but we need to feel the fire inside and that’s what’s missing because otherwise people leave and we are made fun of by our fans, and for me, that’s enough even to stay in retreat until June.”

Are you talking to us or to the team?

“I’m talking to the team, so maybe they watch this press conference and maybe give something more. Then maybe some don’t like to talk in this way but that’s how I am.”

Was there a heated confrontation in the retreat?

“I confirm that there was a heated confrontation, there was no physical violence, then I think that if it happens it means we have something inside, that we are men, but absolutely nothing serious happened.”

How important is the old guard?

“It’s important for the team, the veterans need to lead the young players and I saw this in the retreat. Then the real help is given on the field and not in words. That’s where you see how influential a player is.”

What do you think of the relegation battle?

“Today we have things to solve, we are not starting from a difficult climb, we need to have the conviction to make it, we need to regain our self-esteem, we need to fight on all fields, if we are all down there it means the championship is long, difficult, or open.”

Lambourde?

“Like other young players, he has qualities that need to be expressed, I can’t burden him with responsibility but protect him because he is an asset of the club and must be put in a position to express himself in the best way. Lambourde is an important player, as is Ghilardi, as is Cissè and Sishuba, but these young players need the team. Then I am the first to play young players because I challenge anyone to say that last June someone thought Belahyane would become what he is today.”