Giampaolo: “Our league position reflects our self-belief”

“Our league position reflects our self-belief,” claimed Marco Giampaolo after Sampdoria beat Chievo to climb to the lofty heights of fifth place. Tall, dark and handsome we are, then.

Not that it was easy by any means. “It was difficult to win because Chievo were on the ball technically and tactically,” the boss explained. “They made it hard for us to play our game. You don’t win matches like this because the league table says you should but by playing well and matching them physically.”

Speaking of the league table, Sampdoria are now just three points off the last Champions League place, and while European qualification is undoubtedly the target, Giampaolo was keen to insist that focus must remain on the here and now.

“I told the lads that if we want to achieve big things we must be prepared to make sacrifices – not just for part of the season but the whole nine months. If the rewards are worth it, you’re happier to make those sacrifices. In any case, we shouldn’t be thinking about May and European football. We have to take things one day at a time.”