Di Francesco’s delight: “We showed balance, stayed compact and got a deserved win”

Eusebio Di Francesco cut a satisfied figure after a gritty Sampdoria beat Torino 1-0 to secure their first win of the season in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.

“We showed balance, we stayed compact and we showed how much we care about this club,” said Di Francesco after the game. “This win is only the beginning. Our attitude made all the difference and we were very strong defensively. It was a big performance – we wanted it and we got it.

“I’m delighted. All of the players were involved today and there was a real sense of team spirit, even from those that didn’t play.”

Di Francesco insisted that the win should have been more comfortable for his side.

“It was a deserved win and a heartening performance in terms of the character we showed, but we could have had more,” he said. “We wanted to strike the right balance and we did that today. We only gave Torino one real chance – the Zaza one at the end. We got the public to get behind us by doing the shirt proud. Now we just need to build on this.”