“The Coppa Italia is fundamental this year”
“We’ve worked really well over the last few weeks and physically we’re in great shape, even if yesterday’s game was more of a training session than a real test. Piacenza are a good side with some promising young players but we are more concerned with the result on Saturday”. Alessandro Birindelli this afternoon underlined the importance of a successful campaign in the Coppa Italia: “The cup is fundamental to our plans this year. It’s vital we win as it’s the only way we can qualify for Europe. Beginning the campaign in Bari will be a surreal experience, having played our last game of the season there in May. Perhaps it’s destiny, the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next. We are determined to do what it takes to succeed”. The bianconeri veteran then spoke about the possibility of a year in Serie B: “It’s a very competitive championship, and if that’s where we end up, we will have to play in some hostile environments, from a sporting and physical point of view. However, we have an incredible team for this division, for any division for that matter. Buffon alone is worth at least 7 or 8 points in Serie A so you can imagine how important he might be if we have to play in Serie B this year. It’s just a matter of adapting to a ‘new’ championship, once we overcome the initial difficulties, the quality of our players will make the difference. We are professionals and we are used to getting results when we need them most”. The stand-in captain for these early stages of the season is already familiar with Serie B surroundings: “I won promotion with Empoli there in the 96/97 season. I have good memories but there were also difficult times, it’s a long and stressful season. It’s a competitive championship, there haven’t been any run-away winners in recent years, but then again, there hasn’t been a team like ours”. Birindelli then looked ahead to Friday’s sentence: “We’re hoping for a positive outcome, but whatever the result, we will continue to work hard, with desire and enthusiasm. Everyone here deserves a favourable verdict”. The versatile defender rounded off proceedings with reference to his position of responsibility in the squad: “There are a lot of young players here and there’s a need for experience. The boss asked me if I would play in the centre of defence and lead the line for the early stages of the season and of course I said yes. I will play wherever I am needed, on the left, the right, or in the middle”.
“We’ve worked really well over the last few weeks and physically we’re in great shape, even if yesterday’s game was more of a training session than a real test. Piacenza are a good side with some promising young players but we are more concerned with the result on Saturday”. Alessandro Birindelli this afternoon underlined the importance of a successful campaign in the Coppa Italia: “The cup is fundamental to our plans this year. It’s vital we win as it’s the only way we can qualify for Europe. Beginning the campaign in Bari will be a surreal experience, having played our last game of the season there in May. Perhaps it’s destiny, the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next. We are determined to do what it takes to succeed”. The bianconeri veteran then spoke about the possibility of a year in Serie B: “It’s a very competitive championship, and if that’s where we end up, we will have to play in some hostile environments, from a sporting and physical point of view. However, we have an incredible team for this division, for any division for that matter. Buffon alone is worth at least 7 or 8 points in Serie A so you can imagine how important he might be if we have to play in Serie B this year. It’s just a matter of adapting to a ‘new’ championship, once we overcome the initial difficulties, the quality of our players will make the difference. We are professionals and we are used to getting results when we need them most”. The stand-in captain for these early stages of the season is already familiar with Serie B surroundings: “I won promotion with Empoli there in the 96/97 season. I have good memories but there were also difficult times, it’s a long and stressful season. It’s a competitive championship, there haven’t been any run-away winners in recent years, but then again, there hasn’t been a team like ours”. Birindelli then looked ahead to Friday’s sentence: “We’re hoping for a positive outcome, but whatever the result, we will continue to work hard, with desire and enthusiasm. Everyone here deserves a favourable verdict”. The versatile defender rounded off proceedings with reference to his position of responsibility in the squad: “There are a lot of young players here and there’s a need for experience. The boss asked me if I would play in the centre of defence and lead the line for the early stages of the season and of course I said yes. I will play wherever I am needed, on the left, the right, or in the middle”.
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