Cagliari coach, Fabio Pisacane, analyzes the performance against Atalanta. Praise for the growth of the group and for the young Palestra, but a clear call for greater ferocity in defense.
At the end of the match against Atalanta, valid for the 15th matchday of Serie A 2025-2026, Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane offered his analysis to DAZN’s microphones. The coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s growth, although regretfully underlining some defensive naivety that cost them dearly against a team in great form.
Tactical analysis: the two sides of the match
Pisacane described a game with two faces. In the first half, the team suffered from Atalanta’s offensive transitions, especially Lookman’s speed. “The marking was too loose, they could have scored 4/5 goals,” admitted the coach, explaining how Zappa struggled to contain the opposing attacker. The turning point came in the second half, thanks to a tactical solution that allowed the dangers to be limited, with only one mistake on an initiative by Zalewski. In this context, Palestra’s performance stood out, as he “held it very well in the duels”. For the coach, the team is demonstrating constant progress: “We are growing and always adding one more brick”, he declared, reiterating his request for the players to take to the pitch to “have fun and put ferocity into it”.
Goals conceded and the future of Palestra
Despite the good tactical organisation, highlighted by effective position exchanges such as the one between Folorunsho and Esposito, the biggest regret for Pisacane concerns the goals conceded. “We conceded and conceded two goals with the defense lined up, there needs to be a different ferocity in marking. We were limp on Scamacca’s 2-1 goal, these are distractions you can’t afford”, underlined the coach, who was disappointed above all because the team had managed to construct a “goal of excellent workmanship”.
On Gaetano: “He can always have an impact, even when he doesn’t start.” Finally, a reflection on the young Palestra. Pisacane advised the player to “isolate” himself from external voices and to concentrate on work, analyzing mistakes to improve, citing Ciro Ferrara as a model to follow. “If he does he will have a great future,” concluded the coach, showing great confidence in the defender’s potential.