Youth and hard work – Zeman style at Cagliari

Date: 30th July 2014 at 6:16pm
Written by:

Zdenek ZemanCagliari have made some changes in the last couple of months on and off the pitch.

Former president Massimo Cellino has gone on to become the owner of English club Leeds United and he had sold the Isolani to former Inter board member Tommaso Giulini.

One of Giulini’s first moves was to appoint Zdenek Zeman as coach of Cagliari and the maverick tactician is already stamping his authority on the Sardinian side.

The 67-year-old had a disappointing second spell at Roma over a year ago, staking over in Sardinia could be “Il Boemo’s” last chance to make an impact at a Serie A club.

Zeman has never won a major trophy and most of his success has come in Italy’s lower divisions, but he has made average teams punch above their weight in Serie A such as Foggia in the 1990s and Lecce in the 2000s.

“Il Boemo” has a reputation for using the 4-3-3 formation and his teams have always had a cavalier approach. He also has a great penchant for bringing the best out of youngsters, which he recently did at Pescara in the 2011-12 Serie B season. Not only did the Delfini win the title, Zeman was also responsible for unearthing young stars such as Marco Verratti, Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.

In keepeing with that tradition, the Isolani have brought in some youngsters from Inter. Twenty-two-year-old centre-back Simone Benedetti was bought outright from the Nerazzurri and 21-year-old central midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig and 22-year-old striker Samuele Longo have arrived on loan from the Milanese giants.

Longo has struggled in loan spells at Spanish Primera Division clubs Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano as well as Hellas Verona but he is looking forward to playing under Zeman.

“When I heard Cagliari were interested in me, I was overjoyed,” Longo told Sky Sport Italia.

“But when I heard of Zeman’s appointment I was even more pleased. This is a great opportunity for me.

Nicola Murru Cagliari“At the moment, the work is really difficult but we were all prepared for Zeman’s methods.”

Last season, the Sardinians had experienced goalkeepers such as Michael Agazzi and Vlada Avramov on their roster but this time they have gone for two youngsters in Simone Colombi and Alessio Cragno.

Zeman will be reunited with striker Marco Sau, who he coached at Foggia in the 2010-11 Lega Pro Prima Divisione season. The diminutive striker scored 20 goals under the Czech born tactician in that Lega Pro campaign and he is also glad to be under the tutelage of “Il Boemo” again.

“I really hope he’s the coach to take us back where we belong,” Sau told Il Corriere dello Sport.

“It was a strange feeling to know that I’d be back working with him, but when I heard I was delighted.

“Training has been very tiring, I have to be honest! But this is the time of the season when you have to work really hard.”

Zeman has been known for his rigorous sessions but he believes that anyone can adapt to his methods, even 35-year-old captain Daniele Conti.

“After a 40-year career nobody ever died from this type of preparation, we will need to deal with the season ahead,” Zeman told Sky Sport Italia.

“I have a group of young guys and young people who try to follow me. It is necessary to suffer now for the benefit of the long run.

“Take our captain Daniele Conti for example. If you prepare well you can play at a high level even at his age.”

Zeman has also brought in Antonio Balzano from Pescara and the right-back will already be familiar with Zeman’s methods.

Zdenek ZemanCagliari have sent defender Davide Astori on loan to Roma and it is unlikely that Colombian forward Victor Ibarbo will stay in Sardinia. Letting Astori go would not be so bad for Zeman because it would likely result in more starts for Benedetti. Ibarbo has been targeted by large clubs in Europe but if he can stay with the Isolani, Zeman could refine Ibarbo’s raw talent.

Aside from Ibarbo and the new recruits, Zeman could also bring the best out of left-back Nicola Murru. The 19-year-old played 21 Serie A matches last season but he can play more often now under the new coach.

This stint at Cagliari could be Zeman’s last chance to do well but things are progressing nicely in the off-season. “Il Boemo” won’t have great expectations placed on him like at Roma and Giulini and Zeman have a clear project going on at Cagliari.

It would be an absolute shock if the Isolani won any silverware this season but if things click early for Zeman’s team, they could shake things up in the top half of the table.

Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria

 

Comments are closed.