Giampaolo calls for focus and maturity ahead of busy Christmas schedule

On Saturday Marco Giampaolo returns to Empoli, the team he coached for a single season before arriving in Genoa, and he goes into the game with the desire to build on what he has achieved so far.

“The fact I’m here at Sampdoria is something I owe to Empoli. We achieved good things in that season. I’m grateful to the president and everyone at the club, where I got the chance to coach some great players. They’re a team in Italian football that does things in the right way. I therefore think it’ll be a tough game for us,” the Doria coach said at the pre-match news conference.

“They’re in good form. Yes, they’re coming into this off the back of a defeat, but they played very well in the first half. I was impressed with them under Aurelio Andreazzoli and I still am with Giuseppe Iachini, under whom they’ve picked up a lot of points.

“They’re a flowing, technical and fast-paced side. They know how to use the ball and play good football.”

When asked about recent comments about Iachini’s desire to return to Sampdoria, he added: “He’s one of us. We’re happy that, by coaching Samp, he’s understood what the club is about. I’m privileged to coach this team. I hope for him that one day that dream, of coming back here, comes true.”

With Samp facing a tough Christmas schedule, the coach underlined the need for maturity from his players: “Now we play during the Christmas period, so we need the maturity to keep our eye on the ball. We need results and we can’t betray our principles that have taken us to where we are in the table.

“We need to keep going as we are, and Christmas is no excuse not to.”