Ballardini ´in love´ with Cagliari

Newly appointed Cagliari coach Davide Ballardini says that he is ‘excited’ to have returned to the Sardinian club.

Ballardini replaced Massimo Ficcadenti as the coach of the struggling Italian side and signed a contract on Wednesday morning, becoming their third boss this campaign after Roberto Donadoni was sacked in August.

The 47-year-old was the Rossoblu coach in 2005-06 and 2007-08 and has now been entrusted with the task of improving on their current run of form that has seen them without a win in their last five matches.

The Italian is relishing the prospect of the task ahead of him and enthuses about his special relationship with the people of Sardinia and the club.

“I am excited by this return to Cagliari and very determined in facing the work that awaits us,” he said.

“(President Massimo) Cellino asked if I felt like coming back and the truth is I always harboured that desire, but I couldn’t imagine when. I am in love with this land and the people in it.”

“The president simply asked me to behave the way I always do, without setting objectives. Cagliari have not changed too much since I was here.”

Cagliari are currently 10th in Serie A with 13 points from 10 matches, five points above the relegation zone.

They confront Italian giants Inter on November 19 in their next league fixture.