Del Neri’s record-breaking year continues

It was a relieved Luigi Del Neri who fronted the press shortly after his Sampdoria side took the win again, this time over Livorno, consolidating the Blucerchiati in fourth place and realising their fifth win a row. The manager from the Friulian town of Aquilea was more wary of this match than any other, as against the 'big' clubs his men have done exceedingly well - whereas if there have been lapses in concentration, it has happened against lesser rated opposition.

"Today's match was really difficult - Del Neri began - because there was only one result we could accept if we were to continue our dream of finishing in fourth. Everybody had us penned in for the win, but instead we had to fight for the three points. This victory, like the last few the team has won, gives us the belief to go ahead and play the last two matches in the best possible manner. In the second half of the season the lads have always turned up for the big occasion and this makes me confident ahead of the next two against Palermo and Napoli."

Next Sunday Sampdoria will be in Sicily to battle out their rivals for the fourth and last Champions League spot. The Rosaneri are two points behind, but will have the home-field advantage.

"We have two more matches to play that are obviously to be seen as two finals. However, I have always maintained that fourth place will be decided on the last day of the championship: Now we will focus on the match with Palermo, which we are going to approach will our heads high, without thinking about being able to count on one of two results. We are a team that is able to control a match, we just have to remain positive on the pitch and play with the confidence of a team that has already achieved something very important."

Del Neri has every reason to speak highly of his team, as they have put together a campaign that has exceeded any previous expectations. At 63, they now have the record number of points for a Sampdoria team, and have won 18 matches, the next highest after the 20 won in 1990/91's Scudetto season.

"What has happened up to now fills us with satisfaction. At a personal level I have never won five matches in a row, but thanks to these lads, I've broken the umpteenth taboo this year. We're assured of a European place, three games prior to the end of the season, something which in fact has not been discussed a lot. Now we are in position to reach a even more important milestone: we will try with all our might, but whatever happens, what this group have already achieved will remain extraordinary."

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Sampdoria defy Roma

Roma's title hopes took a dent on Sunday night at the Olimpico, as Giampaolo Pazzini's second-half brace was enough to take the points away from Totti and co. The stadio Olimpico was totally sold out for the crucial match, on one hand Roma needing to maintain their slender advantage in the fight for the Scudetto, on the other Sampdoria, fresh from killing Milan's title hopes needing to win to avoid slipping behind Palermo in the race to secure the final Champions League spot.

Roma started strongly and it was Totti who opening the scoring, slotting in a neat goal to send the home fans into delirium. However, Samp didn't come to the capital to watch and reacted with some good build up play, but not the clear chances needed to score.

Sampdoria goalie, Marco Storari, already something of a folk-hero despite only being at the club on loan since January, was again instrumental in limiting the damage done in the first half. He made a couple of great saves, including one from point blank at the near post against Totti. Teams went to the break with Roma in the lead 1-0.

Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri made two changes to the mid-field for the start of the second term. With Daniele Mannini replacing ex-Roma winger Stefano Guberti, and Andrea Poli making way in the middle of the park for Fernando Damian Tissone. It only took 7 minutes for the scores to level, as Antonio Cassano beat three Roma defenders on the edge of the box and crossed high to the far post, where Pazzini soared to meet the ball with a strong down header at the feet of Roma's Julio Sergio.

Storari was again magnificent in the second half, as was the Sampdoria defense in total to hold out a marauding Roma side, held bent on victory. However, in a echo of last weeks win against Milan, it was Daniele Mannini who provided the cross, low in to the 6 yard box, where Pazzini again got inside his marker and with a lunging right foot, steered the ball wide of Julio Sergio, no doubt prompting a deafening roar in the home's and bar's of Genova Blucerchiata. Celebrations that spilled over later in the evening as a few hundred fans flocked to the Aeroporto Christoforo Colombo to welcome the team home.

Sampdoria are showing themselves in the last week to be worthy contenders in any European competition, and with this victory they cemented their spot on the international stage. The next match against already relegated Livorno looms as a celebration and an opportunity to exorcise some demons, as the Doriani went down mid-season to the Livornese. Samp now perhaps lining up a late run at third placed Milan, but nonetheless still masters of their own destiny.

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Stefano Guberti talks about life in two camps

The club that he belongs to is flying towards the Scudetto, the one he plays for is charging into Champions League contention.  On Sunday at 20:45, the lights at the Olimpico will flick on for Roma-Sampdoria, the Giallorossi against the Blucerchiati, first against fourth.  Never before has Stefano Guberti anticipated a similar event, a match that can cap off a season as a major player. "I have to say that I'm very satisfied" - said the left winger in an interview with Samp tv. "It would be tremendous if both 'my' teams could reach their respective ambitions.  Right now I'm thinking as a Doriano and it's normal that I'm hoping for a goal. We'll see what happens this Sunday." 

 Staying with last Sunday, coming back against Milan must have given you another shot of confidence.

 "The beginning of the match was even overall, we went down a goal at the first occasion the Rossoneri had, but we did well to react immediately. They shut down at the back and it seemed like the ball didn't want to go in, then, thankfully, everything changed and we won ourselves three important points."

 Three well deserved points, do you agree?

 We deserved to win despite Bonera being sent off.  We all had great games, beginning with the defense who had to look after players like Ronaldinho, Borriello and Seedorf, and they didn't give them much.  It was a shame we didn't score earlier, perhaps that was only sore point, but we were still good up front.

 The Table now has you in alone in fourth place, would you have expected that in January?

 "I'd have to say no.  There are other teams that train from the start to get these objectives.  We've done well to believe in ourselves and to bridge the gap as a team, with spirit of sacrifice and the desire to get over the line."

 It's pretty clear where the team wants to end up now...

 Well, we've got it all to play for until the end, and we have all the means to do it.  I think that on Sunday we'll be facing the most difficult of our four finals. Nevertheless, we're gong to Rome as the fourth placed team, aware of our strengths and with nothing to lose."

 Have you heard from any of your old team mates? Are they nervous about this giant killing Sampdoria?

 Yes, I've spoken with them, but they were totally focused on the derby, we all know how much games of this nature weigh on the players.  This week they'll have time to think about Sunday night and I'm certain of one thing: they'll be very wary of us."

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