Del Neri back to where it all began

The National Staff

• Last Updated: November 21. 2009 10:22PM UAE / November 21. 2009 6:22PM GMT

Luigi Del Neri takes his Sampdoria side to Verona today to face his old team Chievo. Massimo Cebrelli / Getty Images

Sampdoria’s game today against Chievo will bring about mixed emotions for Luigi Del Neri.

The Samdoria coach Del Neri made his name at Chievo where he took them from Serie B to the top-flight and a place in the Uefa Cup. The 59-year-old had two spells lasting five years with the Verona club and is still hailed as a hero by their fans.

“It won’t be a game like the others, not just for me but also for my squad who want to change the team’s course, after less than favourable results which have come up lately,” said Del Neri.

“Personally, I am tied with great affection to Chievo Verona, the club who allowed me to make my debut in Serie A as a manager, even though from that period, apart from the president [Luca] Campedelli and the sporting director [Giovanni] Sartori, hardly any one has remained.

“Nevertheless, the years I spent in Verona will remain forever in my memory and in that of the players who wore the yellow and blue shirt in those years.”

After starting the season with four consecutive victories, Sampdoria have won just one of their last six, and went into the weekend’s games in fifth place. But the Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo is still expecting a very hard game and wants his team to play with a physical style.

“We are facing a great team, led by a really great coach,” he said.

“We have to play as a team. Above all, we have to take courage and the capacity to suffer on to the pitch, without any sort of fear.

“And with a pinch more of cynicism at times. Maybe we should be less beautiful and more concrete.”

Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon said tonight’s game with Udinese is pivotal to their title ambitions.

“For us it will be a decisive match for our progress in the championship and for this reason we must win,” said the goalkeeper. “At home we have already dropped a number of points and we cannot afford more false steps.”

Juve went into the weekend five points behind leaders Inter and having won only three of their six home games.

AC Milan return from the international break looking to pick up where they left off when they visit Cagliari. Milan have won four of their last five matches, after just two victories in their first seven.

“We are playing in a system that allows us to create a lot, we attack with more men,” said defender Gianluca Zambrotta

“Attacking play has always been Milan’s philosophy. For us wingers, also, it’s very important having reference points on the same flank, like it often happens for me with Ronaldinho.”

Cagliari go into the game in fine form as well, having won four games in a row.

Napoli look to continue their unbeaten home run against a Lazio side who have not won in 10 games.

Wins against Fiorentina and Juventus and a 2-2 draw against AC Milan before the international break prove just what the Naples side can do, but they still think they can improve.

“So far we have done well and we are pleased,” said midfielder Michele Pazienza. “But if we have given 100 per cent so far, we must now give 200 per cent.

“Only if we multiply our efforts can we gain consistency and keep our performance levels high.”

Meanwhile, the Italian interior minister Roberto Maroni has agreed to postpone the introduction of electronic supporter ID cards from January 1 until the start of next season.

* With agencies