Giampaolo enjoys winning feeling: “This result is what we wanted”

As Sampdoria get back to winning ways, Marco Giampaolo once again has a smile on his face, even though he still sees room for improvement to get back to top form.

“We were a tad too nervous in our play,” the head coach began following the game, “and so things didn’t work as well as they could, especially in the first half. The team has to be free to express their football. But then we shrugged this weight off our shoulders and started to play as we needed to.

“Three losses in a row always leaves some baggage and your mentality is always the thing that makes the difference.

Giampaolo’s formation was the same as ever – his tried-and-tested 4-3-1-2 – but there were some changes in the personnel.

“We were heavily weighted in attack, with a midfield made up of forward-minded players, three attackers and [Jacobo] Sala at full back, a technically gifted footballer who is key to our manoeuvres. This is the DNA of the side and it will not be compromised.”

On the topic of Europa League qualification, Giampaolo called upon his players to show belief and fight.

“If you want to achieve major objectives,” Giampaolo concluded, “you must be able to cope with the pressure and set your ambitions high. I’ve got faith in my players and we don’t want to throw the towel in. We don’t want to let it affect us, we strive to get better.”