Let's talk about Serie A for the first time today: Genoa vs Cagliari!
On the surface, this is a game without suspense, and the difference in strength between the two sides is too big.
Although they are all promoted horses, the background is very different. Genoa, a club that has won 9 Serie A titles, is better in terms of connections and economic strength, so there is also a big gap between the lineups of the two sides, for example, the value of the entire Cagliari team is almost half of Genoa.
Moreover, Cagliari is also an away bug who will not play without Sardinia's strange home stadium.
Moreover, after playing Juventus in the last game, they also lost three core players...... At least four absolute players are absent today.
Therefore, the gap in strength between the two sides is very large, and it is not on the same level at all.
However, there may also be some problems within Genoa, which may be the silver lining for Cagliari.
In the case of Genoa, the main problem is that it is uncertain whether the head coach Gilardino will renew his contract.
Gilardino is now in demand because of his excellent results, with Fiorentina, Monza and other clubs showing interest in him.
Genoa also offered a contract extension a few weeks ago, offering to increase his annual salary from €500,000 (the lowest of any manager in Serie A) to €1 million plus bonuses.
But Gilardino made it clear: he wanted a stronger team more than a raise.
Gilardino was once a superstar after all, and he certainly wasn't short of money.
For a young manager with such ambitions, he is more eager to make career breakthroughs than to make money, such as leading the team to play in European competitions or something.
Then, Genoa's platform is a bit low, and the club's heart is not in Europe, but in selling.
Genoa is a team that likes to sell people, for example, in January it sold the core of the defense Dragusin (25 million went to Tottenham), and it is likely to sell core players such as Retegui and Gudmundson in the offseason.
So, naturally, Gilardino is reluctant to renew his contract - the management has been tearing down my pillars, right?
Many managers are particularly unhappy with this, such as Julen Lopetegui, who escaped at the beginning of the season, De Zerbi, who publicly complained about the club in the winter window, and former Lyon coach Blanco...... It often affects the team's results.
Gilardino refused to renew his contract, first, the fans were more anxious and went to the club one after another, asking Gilardino to stay.
Second, many players also lack the will to fight because of the uncertainty of their future.
Genoa have 10 players whose contracts are expiring, including absolute workhorses such as captain Baddeley.
If Gilardino doesn't renew his contract, it will be difficult for the management to determine the squad for next season, and then these players whose contracts expire will not know where their future lies, and the fighting spirit will inevitably be a little blurred - what am I fighting for?
And Cagliari's fighting spirit is more clear.
At present, it is only 3 points ahead of the relegation zone, and it is not time to relax if it has not been relegated.
The old coach Ranieri has said that Cagliari will be the last club of his career, and the management has also expressed their full support for the old coach, and the goal of the whole team is very clear and united.
At the end of the season, the fighting spirit is very important.
Despite the disparity between the two teams today, Cagliari looked vulnerable.
However, the gap in the level of fighting spirit may narrow the gap in strength.
All things considered, what do you think of Cagliari's ability to satisfy the fans?
Well, for today's other competitions, Xiaojiu will still send you text analysis in the evening. If there is anything unclear, you can ask me, "Watch the ball and see clearly", we will see you soon!
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