Sampdoria in the playoffs, Pirlo: “Minimum objective achieved, now let’s not limit ourselves. We want Serie A”

Genoa – “Now let’s not limit ourselves.” Andrea Pirlo is happy, Sampdoria is in the playoffs mathematically after the 1-0 against Reggiana scored by Esposito but look further. In 6th place and “in Serie A, whoever goes to the playoffs wants to go to Serie A, we must not hide”. The return of Eriksson, the over 27 thousand fans at Marassi and the certainty of the playoffs are the ingredients of an intense Sunday, with the new feature of Pedrola’s injury.

“We have achieved the minimum objective – explains Pirlo in the press conference – after a long and tiring season, with many vicissitudes. We had already started from retirement with the aim of playing these matches, perhaps not saying it too much, we managed it with a turn to spare but the tournament is not over yet, we have the possibility of gaining another position which would mean a lot, because it would allow us to play at home and have two results out of three: from tomorrow we want to prepare ourselves to try to go and win in Catanzaro”.

The Blucerchiati coach talks about the emotions he experienced: “It was nice already when the bus arrived: they waited for us two thousand fansthey gave us energy, in fact we had a fantastic, intense first half, with a great desire to bring the match home. It was a celebration before with Eriksson’s return and many former players and an even better party afterwards with the fans. We were extremely pleased to see a legend of world football and of Sampdoria, he told us that he lived the best 5 years of his career here, he made us understand even more what it means to coach Sampdoria and play for them.”

Displeasure is the new muscle injury of Pedrolawhom Pirlo consoled as he left the pitch: “He said he didn’t feel a terrible pain, a little hardening, let’s hope it’s nothing serious, he’s an extraordinary boy, he’s come from a terrible year, he had regained his confidence, he had desire to play, he is an extra weapon for us, he has incredible qualities. It is a shame to see him cry, he has felt this type of pain so many times that he now struggles to understand the extent.”

Now Sampdoria doesn’t want to stop. “How do you find new motivation? Just playing in this stadium, you motivate yourself – assures Pirlo – the appetite comes from eating, the pleasure becomes greater when you can play these matches, now the belief has grown, we must not set limits, we must not hide us, if you play the playoffs it’s to go in A league“.

Photos of the match