Giampaolo’s recipe for Cagliari clash: “Patience, character, Quagliarella and our fans”

Marco Giampaolo has urged Sampdoria to pull out all the stops in the last four games as they bid to cap a magnificent season by claiming a coveted European spot, despite the odd stutter in recent weeks.

“The fact we’re still up there jostling for our place at the European table is something we should be excited about because it means we’re in a position we didn’t expect to be,” the coach told reporters at a news conference on the eve of the game against Cagliari.

“It’s going to be difficult because Cagliari are fighting to stay up but if we want to keep challenging for our place in the sun right until the end then we have to win.

“We’re going to need lots of things tomorrow: patience, skill, enthusiasm, character – and our fans.”

Samp will also need their captain, Fabio Quagliarella, and even more so in light of the absence of fellow strikers Duvan Zapata and Gianluca Caprari.

“A lot will depend on Quagliarella’s form and fitness,” Giampaolo admitted. “I left him out against Lazio because it was the third game in a week and I didn’t want to wear him out. We’re going to need him in the run-in if we want to keep on chasing our dream.”