Sampdoria vs Pescara preview - Delfini need to tougen up

Posted Sunday, January 27, 2013 by PA

Pescara will have to toughen up mentally to stand any chance of surviving in Serie A, according to head coach Cristian Bergodi, whose side make the trip to Sampdoria.

The Delfini had picked up just seven points from 11 games but back-to-back wins against Catania and Fiorentina boosted Bergodi's men up the table.

Two defeats sucked Pescara back into the bottom four, though, with defeat at Inter Milan preceding a comfortable 2-0 win for Torino at the Stadio Adriatico last weekend.

Bergodi slammed his team's work ethic, saying: "We have to work harder towards the end of games.

"I want a team that plays with its heart and its head, because in certain games if you cannot win then a draw is fine. We need to work more on our psychology.

"If you take the wrong approach to a game then you won't go far. The boys must understand that we need to change.

"I take responsibility, however, and I hope the lads understand that a team like ours needs a bit of craftiness if we're to stay up."

Slovakian midfielder Vladimir Weiss was dismissed against Torino and will serve a one-match ban at the Marassi, with Franco Modesto also serving a suspension.

Sampdoria may be a more cohesive unit under Delio Rossi, but a lack of firepower has seen the Blucerchiati score only two goals in four games.

Rossi was frustrated by the whole team's performance in a 1-0 loss at Siena that denied the club the chance to climb away from the bottom five.

"I don't think the lack of goals depends entirely on the strikers but on our approach to the game," he said.

"I am convinced that this problem can be overcome through hard work, but if we're always tracking back then obviously we won't score."

There was tragic news for Sampdoria this week as 76-year-old club owner Riccardo Garrone passed away after a battle against illness.

The honorary president of energy company ERG bought Samp from Enrico Mantovani in January 2002.

This fixture took place in Serie B last season, with Pescara winning 3-1, but Samp edged September's top flight rematch 3-2 thanks to a brace from Maxi Lopez.