Paolo Bianco: “I don’t know if we’ll make it to Serie A—let’s not let it become an obsession.”

“I don’t know if we’ll be promoted and make it to Serie A this year—I don’t have a magic wand—but all the pieces are in place. The goal is there, but it mustn’t become an obsession, because that leads nowhere.” Pisa coach Paolo Bianco is trying to ease the pressure. “I think my team received too many compliments after the games against Verona, Cremonese, and Palermo,” he adds. “A team that’s already ready and mature brings home more points, but instead there were too many compliments. We’re not the team to beat after the Rosanero, just as we received too much criticism after the loss to Avellino.”

Avellino’s 2-0 victory, which came on Matchday 10 in the match between two former Monza coaches, Nesta and Bianco, ended the Nerazzurri’s five-game winning streak. Going into the match, Pisa was in fifth place and had a chance to catch up with Mantova and Ascoli in third place. Now the Tuscan team sits at 15 points, tied with Verona, Avellino, and Benevento, while Inzaghi’s league-leading Palermo, victorious 3-1 over Vicenza, has surged to 26 points and holds an 11-point lead.

Pisa’s season so far has been marked by ups and downs. Relegated from Serie A along with Cremonese and Verona, the Nerazzurri lost at home on the opening day, just like the other two teams that had been relegated to Serie B. However, they bounced back immediately with consecutive wins over Catanzaro and Juve Stabia, which propelled them to sixth place. More recently, they also earned a 1-1 draw on the road against Verona.

Bianco’s comments on the goal of promotion are in line with those he made in late September to *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, when the coach spoke of a long-term project: “The project spans two years; we need to become strong right away and get promoted in two years, building something that will stand the test of time. Pisa wants to return to Serie A to stay there. This applies to both the team and the club, with the training center set to be ready this spring.” Among the most significant summer signings is Andrea Petagna, formerly of Monza, whom Bianco was determined to bring with him to Tuscany as well.