Giampaolo targets Milan test: “A chance to measure ourselves”

Sampdoria travel to San Siro tonight to play Gennaro Gattuso’s AC Milan, a side keen to put last week’s derby loss behind them.

Marco Giampaolo is fully aware of the difficulties this fixture could pose but expects to see another professional display from his players.

“This is a prestigious fixture,” the coach began in yesterday’s press conference, “which will allow us to measure ourselves against a team built for different objectives than ours.

“Our task is to make life tough for every opposition and we’ll try to do the same against Milan.”

The Blucerchiati go into this fixture with 15 points in the bag and in fifth spot in the league, three ahead of Milan, who have a game in hand after the postponement of their home game against Genoa in the wake of the Ponte Morandi tragedy.

“I have huge respect for the Rossoneri,” Giampaolo continued, “they’re a team that I like. The squad was put together sensibly and they have set way of playing to win. Their two recent defeats don’t affect the quality they have.”

Giampaolo admits he’s having selection headaches at the moment but that the competition does good for the team.

“The lads are doing well. I’ve got plenty of decisions to make and they’re not just confined to one player or position. Those who are playing cannot rest on their laurels and the guys who miss out need to be breathing down their necks. It’s normal that players who don’t play won’t be happy about it, but they need to continue working calmly and professionally – as they have been doing.”

Finally, Samp have a tough run of fixtures coming up, with AC Milan away followed by Torino at home and then a trip to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma.

“If I think about all the big games we have coming up, it is a worry,” Marco concluded. “So I focus on them one at a time. Each game is a test of your ability. It’s too early to set any targets”