Serie A

Bologna, Italian team loses two key players ahead of Juventus clash

Published

7 months ago

12/04/2024

Staff

Cagliari, Brazilian forward Jeda gave a long interview to Cagliarinews24 microphones. Here’s what he said.

Below is an excerpt from the long interview granted to Cagliarinews24.

Jeda’s Words

Jeda, you watched Cagliari’s victory over Hellas Verona from the stadium. Will the three points gained give confidence to the red and blues for the upcoming challenges?
“I was very pleased to watch Cagliari at the Unipol Domus for the first time and see the crowd. I confirm what I had already said, that I think the red and blues should make the most of the home advantage. The Sardinian crowd gives you something extra in terms of atmosphere and competitive toughness, all things that you need to win games. These are the games that Cagliari needs and that make the difference, you don’t even need to win 3/4/5 to zero. In Serie A there is a lot of balance, so when you win a game 1-0, controlling and risking little, it means that in my opinion you are on the right track. I really liked the team, I saw a very focused Cagliari with great leaders on the field”.

Davide Nicola is getting Cagliari to perform at good levels. What do you think of the Piedmontese coach?
“I personally wanted to thank Mr. Nicola and congratulate him because I think he is doing a good job. Cagliari, with all its staff and all available players, must be a group, everyone must be ready and in shape to help, especially those on the bench. Viola, for example, did very well when he came on and changed the game. In general, I also liked the other substitutions, when they came on they made a difference in the match against Hellas Verona, which until then was very tough, hard, and blocked. They came to play their game despite coming from the five goals conceded against Inter. The team was focused, compliments to Nicola! These are the games that the red and blues must win. Then, when you manage to play important games like with Milan and Juventus, it means that the team is there, but Cagliari has to play the championship with Verona, Venice, Empoli, etc.”.

Now the Sardinians are expected to face the tough challenge of Franchi against Raffaele Palladino’s Fiorentina. Do you think that despite the high difficulty of the match, Cagliari can bring points home?
“The one against Fiorentina is the type of game that can give you a lot, especially in terms of morale. When you go to the home of the Viola, it’s difficult, they are the real surprise of the championship, they must be praised for the work they are doing after a start where there was great skepticism towards Palladino. They have been patient and now they are the team of the moment! I’m not talking so much about a victory, in a game like this if Cagliari brings home a draw it means a lot. This is because it would be an away game and against a dangerous team at the moment, it would mean a lot for the standings and make a difference”.

Raffaele Palladino (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

The match between Cagliari and Fiorentina has become an appointment to remember Davide Astori. As his former teammate, what memories do you have of him as a footballer?
“In some interviews, I had said that in my opinion he would have been the backbone of the National Team. He was tough in his ways, when he arrived at Cagliari I remember he wasn’t very shy, he made his tackles. It seemed that technically he wasn’t good, but he worked hard and over time he improved especially in terms of technique. Later, he became a good player in terms of elegance, he was very difficult to face because he was impossible to beat and he was also fast. He had technique and a lot of personality, and I think in today’s football he would have been one of the greatest Italian defenders! From what I saw him play, he had become top-notch, he improved a lot over time, he was the classic Italian defender. Great personality and knew how and when to tackle, considering that he also knew how to play the ball well”.

The former Cagliari defender tragically passed away while playing for Fiorentina. Besides the purely technical aspect, what kind of man and teammate (and locker room companion) was Davide Astori to you?
“For someone like me who was his teammate, it is difficult not to be a bit biased. Astori had many human qualities, just think that he was captain of two important teams like Cagliari and Fiorentina. To wear the captain’s armband for such important clubs, in my opinion, the human aspect is much more important than the technical one, you must have certain values in clubs that focus so much on the importance of the individual. The match between Fiorentina and Cagliari is always an important moment to remember Davide Astori, a man who was captain of two important teams! He will never cease to be an example for many players, in fact, many talk about him and praise his figure. He was a normal, common, and simple guy who made football his reason for living. That was something about him that struck me, I liked the fact that he was a player and a man with important values. I hope that the match will be a spectacle and since football is not mathematics, the one who commits fewer mistakes on the field wins”.

What happened to Edoardo Bove a few days ago unfortunately recalls what happened to the former Cagliari player. What did you think when you saw the images of Fiorentina-Inter?
“Seeing that situation, we were plunged back into what happened years ago, something that unfortunately has happened often at Fiorentina. Something that started with Astori and continued with their great director Barone, and then the other night it happened again with Bove. He is a very young guy who has just started his high-level football career, he is a player with great charisma. Seeing those images, many things come to mind, and in fact, there was a great mobilization of encouragement messages on social media. What I hope is that he can recover soon because I would like to see him back on the field as soon as possible so that he can show all his talent. In those moments when you didn’t understand what to do – except pray for him – for me, there was a lot of sadness. I hope he can resume his normal life and play, which I think is his great passion, I’m really sorry for what happened to him!”.

EDOARDO BOVE RAMMARICATO (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Expanding the discussion to the Serie A 2024-2025 season: who do you think are the favorites to win the Scudetto? Is Juventus pulling away from the group?
“I think, based on the squad and how they are playing, the favorite remains Inter, they have a very high level in the squad, you don’t notice the difference when one comes out and another comes in. Immediately below in the race for the Scudetto, I put Napoli and Atalanta, then there are Juventus and Milan but I wouldn’t forget Lazio which is having a good season. For the Scudetto, there is a lot of balance even though I see Inter slightly above the others for the great football they are playing. At the moment, I put Juventus a bit outside that group, but we’ll see what Thiago Motta can do when he recovers all the players who are currently injured. In my opinion, they are now out of the title race due to the quality of the game they are playing but clearly Juventus is Juventus, the same goes for Milan: these are teams that have the word Scudetto in their DNA. These teams are running a lot but then maybe soon the teams that are further down will start to do the same and things will change. For me, the surprise of the season at the moment is Fiorentina!”.

The Italian national team is resuming its journey after the disappointing “German” European Championship. What do you think is the secret behind the turnaround of CT Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri?
“I think Spalletti is a great coach for Italy and the time for experiments is over, I believe he has understood which players are for the national team and which are not. The Azzurri have gone through a process of change as well as rejuvenation, we also need to give them time to work. I think the players have to understand that that jersey is important and represents an entire nation, in addition to the fact that when you wear it, it’s like going to war. You have to love the jersey and the national team and you have to know that you will fight for many people who expect you to deliver results. The national team is not a place where you go to be valued and to put this on your resume, there must be love for the jersey, something different from a club. I think Spalletti is managing to instill these values in the minds of his players, conveying to them what responsibility it represents. In my opinion, he has chosen the right elements for Italy, the experiments have already been done, albeit not too many because then he would have risked confusing the players. I think the Italian national team at the moment is one of the best in the world, the European Championship was a disappointment because the expectations were different. I hope this team can bring great satisfaction to the Italian people!”.

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Serie A

No need for a revolution, just work with order and responsibility – Calcio style

Published

1 hour ago

07/08/2025

Staff

AC Milan’s new coach, Massimiliano Allegri, introduced himself to the fans at the usual press conference.

The era of Massimiliano Allegri at AC Milan is about to begin. The new Rossoneri coach presented himself to the fans and journalists at the customary introductory press conference.

The former Juventus coach will have a very challenging task, that of turning around the fortunes of the Diavolo, after a season on the brink of disaster. Without European competitions, the Rossoneri can focus solely on achieving a position that will allow AC Milan to return to the fields of the Champions League.

Milan

AC Milan, Allegri’s first words

“Good morning everyone and welcome back. I am pleased to be here in front of you. Today we start this adventure where we will try to achieve great satisfactions”.

How was your last month?

“Since I arrived, we have started working together with the director and the club. To achieve results, we must be a united block, with responsibilities towards an important club like AC Milan. We share daily dynamics with the management. This morning we had the first training session, this afternoon another one. This fantastic adventure begins: I am very happy and very excited. With great enthusiasm, I have returned to AC Milan”.

Since you left, you have won more than Milan…

“The number 5 is lucky for me, it’s the date my daughter was born, who made me a grandfather of two grandchildren. It’s not that in these 15 years I have won more than Milan. I was fortunate to work for 4 years at Milan with Berlusconi and Galliani, where I had the opportunity to win thanks to the club and the players. Then I went to Juventus, and I take this opportunity to thank them for the 8 years I spent there: the people who supported me and President Agnelli to whom I am attached. That said, I try to put the players in a position to give us important performances. The club must be a united block, it must be supportive, and I am sure it will be. The AC Milan squad is an excellent squad, the club is monitoring all situations and the important thing is to arrive on August 31 in the best conditions. The first six months are important to create the best conditions to reach March, where seasons are decided”.

At the end of the season, would you be satisfied if…

“Not starting by saying at the end, today is the first training session. We start with enthusiasm, passion, a sense of responsibility, to create the conditions so that in March we are in the best position to achieve our goals. The first goal for AC Milan is to return to the Champions League, so by March we must be in those positions”.

What explanations have you given for last season?

“Football is difficult. There is a simple example: I was watching Serie B, Spezia played the playoffs with a different player compared to the team that played the playoffs the previous year. It’s not up to me to say what went wrong last year, I watched the games and enjoyed them a lot: today a new season begins and we need to focus on this. AC Milan last year won a trophy, reached the Coppa Italia final, played excellent individual matches.

I have to take the good from last year: the team’s value is there. It’s up to me to make them perform at their best: we all need to work together, players, the club, and those at Milanello, to achieve the best results. At AC Milan, there must always be the ambition to achieve the maximum and never settle, with great dedication to work. Especially in the league, where it’s not a one-off game, we need to try to travel at a cruising speed. To achieve results, we need to earn a certain number of points, score goals, and concede fewer: goal difference in the Italian league has always made the difference, I was taught this since I was a child”.

How short-muso will your Milan be?

“It’s not a matter of short-muso. We need to start well, trying to return to the Champions League. Everyone must have this goal in mind. And we can only achieve it through hard work. I am very confident”.

Inter, Napoli, Milan, National Team: you were highly desired…

“I chose Milan because I am very fond of it. When Tare and Furlani called me, I immediately met them, I was very excited and in an hour we decided”.

What certainties do we need to start from?

“As for the market, there is Tare who monitors it and we share things every day. The exits, including Theo and Reijnders, have been shared. Today I have 25 players and I am very happy with who I have available. Then things need to be done slowly, the important thing is to work well to be ready for August 17. Maybe no one will talk about it, but for us, it is very important because it is both from within and outside”.

Can you do what Napoli did under Conte?

“What I can say is that when working at Milan, everyone must have the ambition to achieve the best results. So we must work with the ambition to achieve the maximum. Then, if in March we are able to be in the best positions in the league, we will see. But now there is no point in saying ‘We will win the league’… We must instead be very responsible, very concrete”.

Are you going with the 4-3-3 formation?

“Where? (laughs). First, let’s see if we can field 10 players, then we’ll see how”.

Maignan as captain and Leao as vice-captain?

“I saw them this morning. I am very happy that Maignan made the choice to stay, he is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. The club did well to keep him. Leao is an extraordinary player. Certainly, he will have a great season this year”.

Where do you plan to place Modric?

“We are waiting for him, he will arrive in August. He is an important and extraordinary player. We have Ricci, Modric, Loftus-Cheek who is a very important player who scored 12 goals two years ago, we have Fofana, Bondo, Musah. We have excellent players. In midfield, we will definitely play with the three, depending on the characteristics of each individual, we will put them on the field and above all, I will try to make them perform as best as possible”.

How crucial is the role of Tare, which was not there before?

“As for what happened until a month ago, I cannot say and I do not know. I found a club with clarity in roles, which is the most important thing: it is important that everyone goes in the same direction. This unity that must exist from the ownership to the warehouse workers must be a single block to put the players in the best position to do what they have to do, which is to help us win games”.

Have you met the ownership? What message do you send to the disappointed fans?

“I met them. It was a pleasant lunch, I was very happy. As for the fans, the most important thing we need to do is work well, day after day: the only way to regain the respect of the fans is to work well, with responsibility and professionalism. And try to achieve results, which is the most important thing in football. The fans will need to support us, we will absolutely need them”.

Once you said “Championships are won in the games where you play poorly,” is that why you are looking for an extra attacker? What is your relationship with Vlahovic?

“He is an extraordinary guy, he arrived very young from Fiorentina. I am not a fan of statistics, but there are numbers you cannot escape from. In the last 20 years, there has been only one season where the best defense did not win, Sarri’s year at Juve when they conceded 43 goals. A great team scores between 60 and 80 goals, if you concede 40 you cannot make it to the top 4”.

Where do your convictions about Leao come from?

“I believe in him, I am convinced. He is approaching the age of maturity. Usually, a player has their most important years between 26 and 30. I think he is more responsible, I met him this morning and talked to him. I believe there are all the conditions to do well”.

How has Allegri changed in recent years?

“I have changed a lot, it is normal. Young people are not better or worse than the elderly, in life, it is a matter of experience. In a month, I will be 58 years old, compared to when I started at Aglianese, I am completely different. With the 4 years at Milan and the 8 at Juventus, I was very lucky, they taught me a lot. These two clubs have enriched my baggage of experience that I carry with me and that I still have to interpret: you never stop learning, there is always room for improvement. There is no maintenance: either you get better or you get worse. When you can’t improve anymore, it means you are getting worse”.

Should the word Scudetto become an obligation, an obsession for this team?

“Aiming for the Scudetto is a proclamation that serves more for you to write. Being in a great club like AC Milan, everyone must have the ambition to achieve the maximum, then the players will speak. The league doesn’t lie, you have to be there every day working and every Sunday fighting for three points. But this can only be discussed in March. Until March, we must build for the final months”.

What Zlatan have you found? Have you tried to talk to Theo to convince him to stay?

“I haven’t seen Zlatan yet. As soon as the news was official, we contacted each other, we are happy. He was an extraordinary player, now he has started a career as a director. As Furlani said, he is a consultant for the ownership, he must be an example for all players with his mentality. Theo made a different choice, he is a great player and I wish him the best of luck”.

How much work will be needed on the team’s mentality?

“I cannot judge what happened last year. The sooner we become a team, the sooner we can achieve results. I have seen very willing and attentive guys. Now let’s see today when we start with the ball, which is the most difficult thing. I am very confident, what happened in previous years has been done: I have to take the best from the recent past, there is no need for a revolution. We need to work with order and responsibility. Then Tare from now until August 31 can seize the opportunities the team needs”.

What advice did you give to Thiago Silva? Which teams do you fear for the coming year?

“Thiago Silva called me, we talk occasionally. I thought he would become a director… (laughs). The teams that are always at the top are Napoli, which is the favorite, Inter, Juventus, Atalanta, Roma, Lazio. Getting into the top four is not easy, so it is important to work well”.

What profiles do you expect as full-backs? Do you trust the current center-backs?

“I don’t talk about the market because there is the director, he takes care of it. We have Jimenez who can play as a full-back, Bartesaghi is an interesting young player. The director has time and ways to sort things out. The center-backs are 4 with different characteristics, they have room for improvement. Pavlovic has potential, Tomori and Thiaw as well. Gabbia is an exemplary guy in behavior and manners, I am happy”.

What offers did you have? And a thought on Juventus:

“I can only thank Juventus for the opportunity they gave me. I thank all the people who supported me in my daily work. As for the other offers… The most important offer for me was AC Milan, I am thrilled and happy to be here: AC Milan has a wonderful charm”.

What style of play do you have in mind? Is there someone to play your tricks with free kicks like you did with Vlahovic?

“Fortunately for them, I can’t take shots at goal anymore. That said, when we have the ball, we must attack well and score goals, and when we don’t have it, we must defend well and not concede goals. There are two phases: when you have it, you must score goals, when you don’t have it, you must not concede goals”.

You bring immediate joy, how important is this aspect?

“What we need to do is have fun, with determination, winning. That’s the mix to aim for. We do a wonderful job, but like all jobs, they must be done with great passion, and this leads you to throw your heart over the obstacle. We do a wonderful job, and when we enter Milanello, we must do it with great enthusiasm, remembering how lucky we are”.

Is Leao someone who needs to be tactically harnessed, or blinders on and off he goes?

“No blinders because you can only see from one side. You must have a 360° vision. Leao has extraordinary characteristics, as does Loftus for others, Ricci for others, Tomori for others, Gimenez for others… I must put them in the best position to do their best”.

What was missing for Milan last year?

“I don’t know what was missing for Milan last year because I wasn’t there, talking from the outside is easy and becomes bar chatter. Now a new season begins with new goals, starting with the Coppa Italia on August 17. To provide continuity, we must work daily, very hard. Only in this way can we provide continuity in the league. The one-off, single game is different from the league path. We must be good at understanding this. It needs to be done quickly, the team and those who work with me must understand it. Everyone is important, at the end of the year, we must achieve our goals”.

How do you reach the Champions League final playing poorly? Aren’t you tired of this reputation as someone who plays poorly?

“I’m not tired, it’s fun, it’s all part of the game, I enjoy it a lot and play along. The important thing is the result. If you win, you’re a good guy, if you lose… I always give an example. When Ronaldo scored a bicycle kick in Turin against us, no one remembers the action, just the goal. Football is art, players have it in their feet and in their heads. It’s a team game, and I agree, but if 1 passes to 2, 2 passes to 3, and 3 makes a mistake, then the team game has already ended… That’s why I talk about technique”.

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Serie A

The French Cross and Delight – Soccer Style

Published

6 hours ago

07/08/2025

Staff

Cagliari will present the team 2025/26 on August 5 among the ruins of Tharros. Sport and culture will come together in a symbolic setting of Sardinia.

Cagliari, the date of the official presentation

It will not be a sports hall, it will not be a conference center. To open a new chapter in its history, Cagliari has chosen to return to its origins. Not its own, but those of an entire civilization. On Tuesday, August 5, under the clear sky of Sinis and against the timeless backdrop of the ruins of Tharros, the red and blue team for the 2025/26 season will be officially presented. A strong, symbolic, almost solemn choice. To intertwine football and culture, belonging and storytelling, in a context that couldn’t be more Sardinian.

The announcement came through the club’s official channels and the Mont’e Prama Foundation, now a stable partner in a journey that for four seasons has linked the Stone Giants to the team that more than any other embodies the spirit of the island. “A special event, in red and blue tones,” the statement defines it. And indeed it will be. Tharros is not just a backdrop. It is a place that has spoken for millennia. And today it welcomes an entire community back around its team.

Tifosi, Fans, Supporters of Cagliari Calcio during Italian soccer Serie B match Cagliari Calcio vs AC Pisa at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy, November 12, 2022 – Credit: Luigi Canu

Details

The evening, hosted by journalist Valentina Caruso, will begin at 8 pm with a moment dedicated to the youngest members of the Cagliari Football Academy. They will be presented with the official kits, in a gesture that ideally combines past and future, tradition and education. From 9 pm, the spotlight will be on the protagonists of the new season: players, coaching staff, and executives will parade on stage. They will be introduced one by one to the audience, under the guidance of coach Fabio Pisacane. Long-time captains and young talents, ready to ignite the hearts of fans with the same passion as always.

But the event on August 5 will not only be about sports. It is, as emphasized by Anthony Muroni, president of the Mont’e Prama Foundation, “a bridge between sports and culture, bringing an increasingly wider audience to discover the treasures of Sinis. And the historical roots of the entire island.” A project, carried out with Cagliari, that has already demonstrated its value during trips to art cities. Places where archaeology and football have merged in a common narrative, filled with beauty and identity.

“It is a great honor to be able to experience such an important moment in a magical place like Tharros,” declared the general manager of Cagliari, Stefano Melis. “A unique opportunity to embrace our fans again and receive from them the energy that will be essential to face the first official commitments.” For the red and blue club, which has made the enhancement of the territory one of the cornerstones of its recent journey, this is another consistent step in a journey that looks far but starts from home.

Admission will be free, subject to availability. For those who do not want to take any risks, it is strongly recommended to book on the Eventbrite platform.

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Serie A

The Headquarters of the Retreat 2025/26

Published

10 hours ago

07/08/2025

Staff

The Cagliari will present the 2025/26 team on August 5 among the ruins of Tharros. Sport and culture will come together in a symbolic scenario of Sardinia.

Cagliari, the date of the official presentation

It will not be a sports hall, it will not be a congress center. To open a new chapter in its history, Cagliari has chosen to return to its roots. Not its own, but those of an entire civilization. On Tuesday, August 5, under the clear sky of Sinis and against the timeless backdrop of the ruins of Tharros, the rossoblù team for the 2025/26 season will be officially presented. A strong, symbolic, almost solemn choice. Intertwining football and culture, belonging and storytelling, in a context that couldn’t be more Sardinian.

The announcement came through the club’s official channels and the Fondazione Mont’e Prama, a stable partner in a journey that for four seasons has linked the Stone Giants to the team that more than any other embodies the spirit of the Island. “A special event, in rossoblù colors,” the press release defines it. And indeed it will be. Tharros is not just a backdrop. It is a place that has spoken for millennia. And today it welcomes an entire community around its team.

Fans of Cagliari Calcio during Italian soccer Serie B match Cagliari Calcio vs AC Pisa at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy, November 12, 2022 – Credit: Luigi Canu

Details

The evening, hosted by journalist Valentina Caruso, will begin at 8 PM with a moment dedicated to the youngest members of the Cagliari Football Academy. They will be given the official kits, in a gesture that ideally combines past and future, tradition and training. From 9 PM, the protagonists of the new season will take the stage: players, coaching staff, and executives will parade. They will be introduced one by one to the audience, under the guidance of coach Fabio Pisacane. Veteran faces and new arrivals, long-serving captains and young promises, ready to ignite the hearts of fans with the same passion as always.

But the event on August 5 will not be just about sports. It is, as emphasized by Anthony Muroni, president of the Fondazione Mont’e Prama, “a bridge between sport and culture, bringing an increasingly broad audience closer to the discovery of the treasures of Sinis. And the historical roots of the entire Island.” A project, carried out with Cagliari, which has already demonstrated its value during trips to art cities. Places where archaeology and football have merged in a common narrative, made of beauty and identity.

“It is a great honor to be able to experience such an important moment in a magical place like Tharros,” declared the general manager of Cagliari, Stefano Melis. “A unique opportunity to embrace our fans again and receive from them the energy that will be fundamental to face the first official commitments.” For the rossoblù club, which has made the enhancement of the territory one of the cornerstones of its recent journey, this is another consistent step in a journey that looks far but starts from home.

Entry will be free, subject to availability. For those who do not want to risk, booking is strongly recommended on the Eventbrite platform.

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