Di Carlo not fazed by Cassano absence

Posted Thursday, November 04, 2010 by ESPN

Sampdoria coach Domenico Di Carlo is confident his side can overcome Antonio Cassano's absence when they host Metalist Kharkiv in their Europa League Group I match.
The build-up to tomorrow's game has been largely overshadowed by events off the field.

Cassano was suspended from training last Friday after a heated argument with club president Riccardo Garrone.

The striker has been omitted from Samp's squad to face Metalist and the club have imposed disciplinary action against the player.

"It has been a strange week,'' admitted Di Carlo. "I don't believe I can mediate until the league arbitration panel meets and takes a decision.

"We will see what happens.''

Di Carlo will be hoping his side can pick up where they left off in last weekend's 1-0 win at Cesena.

With Cassano suspended by the club, Giampaolo Pazzini came to the rescue late on to hand Samp their third Serie A win of the campaign.

"We were missing an important result and we got it at Cesena,'' said Di Carlo.

"I hope the win can give the players further self-confidence and an added strength to the group because this team still has room for improvement.''

With Cassano's future at the club up in the air, Di Carlo has demanded other players step up their game.

"I have spoken to my other strikers,'' he said. "I have given them more responsibility because we need the three of them - Pazzini, Guido Marilungo and Nicola Pozzi - to help each other out and deliver.''

Metalist travel to the Luigi Ferraris stadium inspired by last month's 2-1 triumph over Samp which lifted the Ukrainians above the Italians and into second in the pool.

Metalist are one point adrift of group leaders PSV Eindhoven and two points clear of third-placed Samp.

Myron Markevich's Metalist have reason to be confident of taking at least a point as they remain unbeaten in four away games in Europe.

Moreover, the visitors head into the encounter on the back of four straight league victories in the Ukrainian Super League.

Last week's 2-1 win over Obolon lifted them to third in the standings, nine points behind leaders Shakhtar Donetsk.