As Cagliari gear up to face Juventus in the Coppa Italia round of 16, head coach Davide Nicola addressed the media, reflecting on the team’s recent challenges and their upcoming match against the formidable opponents.
In his pre-match press conference, Nicola emphasized the importance of moving past their recent defeat to Atalanta. “The match against Atalanta is in the past; this is a different competition with different dynamics,” he stated. “As I told the players, we are here thanks to their performances, and facing a great team like Juventus should be a source of pride. We are eager to measure ourselves against them.”
However, Cagliari will be without key player Luvumbo, who has been ruled out due to injury. Nicola confirmed, “Luvumbo will not be in the squad, and we will see how long he will be out. I need to speak with the medical staff; he took a knock.”
When asked about the overall condition of his team, Nicola expressed confidence in their work ethic. “The team is working hard and understands that performances like those we’ve had can lead us to achieve our goals progressively. We need to focus on the match; the context and opponent will provide opportunities for growth.”
Looking ahead to Juventus, Nicola acknowledged their recent squad changes and quality. “The team has been renewed; they made quality signings and demonstrated their strength against Manchester City. In the league, they are doing well despite fighting for different objectives. We know we are up against a team of great quality and must be absolutely competitive.”
Regarding his lineup choices, Nicola noted, “What does this challenge mean? These are tests that allow us to compete and grow further while giving playing time to those available. Scuffet will return to goal. In defense, we’ll have Zappa, one of either Mina or Wieteska, Palomino, and Augello. In midfield, Marin, Prati, Deiola, and Felici are under evaluation. Up front, we’ll have Lapadula and Gaetano, with the possibility of using Pavoletti later in the match.”
As for Cagliari’s mindset going into this crucial fixture, Nicola concluded, “Motivation will be high; we must be aware that we are in a different competition. Playing every three days enhances our knowledge and ability to manage ourselves.”