Cagliari coach Davide Ballardini kicked off his latest stint with the Sardinians in defeat to AC Milan.

Ballardini's debut in place of Massimo Ficcadenti, although it is actually his third stint on the Cagliari bench.

"I am tied to Sardinia and these people, but all that has nothing to do with what we have to achieve from here on in, because there are many difficulties and we must be prepared."