The Cagliari coach: “I studied three languages and Generation Z to become a better coach. Today’s kids thrive on applause and few reprimands. I made a career out of reading the game in defense; if only I had Mina’s feet…”
In less than ten years, he went from making his Serie A debut as a player to doing so as a coach: from September 18, 2016, to August 24, 2025. Always with Cagliari. This may be why Fabio Pisacane intends to give back what he has absorbed from this land.
President Tommaso Giulini firmly believes in him: he reiterated this a few days ago, saying that “it would be a dream to save ourselves with a young coach and a young team…”
“He believed in a path and not in an improvised choice. I feel a great sense of responsibility and gratitude and I would like to repay this trust with my work and behavior.”
How far along are you on this path?
“We are on track with our goals, and our daily work is going in the right direction. We’ve had a series of misfortunes, but I don’t like to talk about injuries: our strength lies in not getting depressed or overexcited.”
As a rookie coach, you beat Gasperini and Spalletti…
“With Roma, it was about play and aggression; with Juve, it was different. Beating two masters who have always given their teams a strong identity doesn’t make me feel like I’ve arrived, but it helps me say that the daily work is going in the right direction.”
What is the most complicated part?
“Not just the technical and tactical aspects, as one might think. It’s not just about the player, but the person. There are complex dynamics, both on and off the field. The skill is also in managing this complexity. If you’re not clear-headed, you can make mistakes.“
When did you think about coaching?
”I started taking the UEFA B license course while I was playing, 3-4 years before I retired. It’s a vocation, you can’t improvise, it has to come from deep within.“
How would you describe yourself?
”Not fundamentalist, but obsessive about the number of games I watch at all levels. The Italian school is the best in the world.“
Are you still curious?
” I took a course on Generation Z, those born between 1995 and the early 2010s. I want to understand their world because I want to know which buttons to push. They thrive on applause and few reprimands. Our generation was one of ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’, Generation Z says ‘when the going gets tough, you shouldn’t be here’.
Did you take any other courses?
“I went to Salzburg, to Red Bull. And then I studied English, Spanish, and French. And a course at Bocconi on communication.“
How do you communicate with younger people?
”You have to choose your words carefully: either you build a bridge or you put up a wall. You have to be very clear. They are hyper-protected in the real world but abandoned in the digital world. We work a lot with video. If I had to talk to these kids the way the coaches of the time talked to me, I wouldn’t get anything across.“
Are you more results-oriented or play-oriented?
”I like to be in the middle: if I were results-oriented, I would betray the game; if I were play-oriented, I would betray the team, I would coach myself. It’s difficult to win games like those against Juve: there’s order, spirit, and sacrifice, but little quality. However, a team like ours can achieve the impossible.“
We’ve often seen a different Cagliari…
”I prefer positional football that embraces the relational: the two can coexist. And we have to bring home points, not compliments.”
What mistake must be avoided in Florence?
“Losing focus. We have to play a flawless game.”
What kind of defender were you?
“I built my playing career on reading the game. The ideal would have been to add Luperto and Mina’s feet to that.”
Your Cagliari team seems balanced, like you…
“Staying balanced gives us the chance to save ourselves. I have often weathered storms in my life.“
You have experienced some setbacks in life, after which you have always bounced back: where does your strength come from?
”From when I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome at the age of 13. I found myself stuck in bed. I am strong because life forced me to be, not because I chose to be. If an illness doesn’t kill you, it comes to complete you. It gave me the push I needed to get rid of some of my weaknesses and fears. I also believe that there is something after this earthly life.”
Who is your role model?
“My father Andrea, he saw me cry many times. He was the one who slept next to me in intensive care when I was a child. He is my safe haven.”
Your brother was shot in Naples a few weeks ago.
“He’s fine now, he’s been discharged from the hospital, his life was never in danger. It was an event that affected me deeply, but it increases my inner strength.”
Did you expect Palestra’s explosion?
“He still has untapped potential. He has done a lot on instinct, if he improves his quality, he will become incredible.“
Are you self-critical?
”Yes, I’m not too proud and I’m not resentful. I start from the principle that I can learn, not that I can teach.”
What do Naples and Cagliari represent?
“Naples represents my roots. Cagliari welcomed me. This land gives you respect and truth and asks you to be consistent. And I don’t want to betray it.”
