World Cup, Simonelli: "Trauma for fans, we are all in shock"

Cagliari, Apr. 1 (LaPresse) – "Yesterday’s match was a trauma for us fans, for all of us Italians, the shock is still very strong, we are all still deeply affected. I returned in the middle of the night from Sarajevo, it was even harder for everyone to cope with this latest exclusion from the World Cup." This was said by Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli on the sidelines of a meeting at City Hall between UEFA, Cagliari Calcio and the municipal administration regarding the project for the new city stadium. On the possible resignation of FIGC president Gravina, urged by Sports Minister Abodi, "I make no comment, of course I have also read all the press reviews, it is clear that there is strong pressure and I believe there will soon be meetings on this issue, so I do not want to express an opinion," Simonelli added. To relaunch the Italian system, it is necessary to start again not only from the "milestone of new stadiums but also from young players, to return to having true champions. In Cagliari there are very talented young players, for example, I believe that yesterday Palestra was the best on the field. So we hope to have many Palestra in the future, but to achieve that we will need to invest heavily in youth, carry out a series of reforms and have everything aligned to return to being what Italy has always been, a leader on the world stage," Simonelli concluded.