Ranieri: “We’re on the right track, I’ll rotate to get the cup win”

Sampdoria travel to Sardinia to take on Cagliari for the second time in the space of three days on Thursday – and Claudio Ranieri has called for the Blucerchiati to take belief from their agonising Serie A defeat at Sardegna Arena on Monday night.

“We need to turn the page but at the same time we need to recognise the good things we did,” Ranieri told Sampdoria club media on Wednesday. “It was a wonderful game, full of tempo, determination and fight. Everything went right for them at the end and we came home with no points, but we take conviction that we’re on the right track.”

Ranieri also confirmed he will rotate the side at Cagliari, but stressed that he will be taking his side to Sardinia with the sole aim of winning.

“You have to try to win every game because every game is important,” he said. “It’s good to give some playing time to the players that deserve to play but haven’t been because the team is doing well right now. Our objective is to produce a positive performance and get the result this time.”