Giampaolo: “Empoli was the first step but we need to step up again”

Marco Giampaolo has called for his Sampdoria side to build on their opening-day win over Empoli with another top-level performance when Atalanta visit Marassi on Sunday.

“I’m expecting a different game from Week 1,” the Samp boss told journalists at his pre-match news conference. “Atalanta had a great match on Sunday – they lost but they dominated the play.

“We need to forget about the Empoli game and focus on stepping up to the plate once again. This is a new match, a new chapter.”

Giampaolo also had some kind words for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta side: “We’re taking on a team that never says die. They keep going right until the last. They’re lethal up front and strong in the duels.”

It’s been a busy summer at Samp, but Giampaolo was keen to stress that the new faces would need time to bed in: “It’s not a given that you don’t change a winning side, but that doesn’t mean I’m definitely going to mix it up. Fernades, Praet and all the other recent arrivals will need time, though I’m sure they’re getting to grips with our style. You can tell Praet is a natural trequartista.”