Former Sampdoria coach Mimmo Di Carlo feels they were condemned to relegation after defeat in the Champions League qualifying round to Werder Bremen.

He was at the helm at the start of the season when they looked set to qualify for the Champions League, but conceded a decisive goal in stoppages of the preliminary round second leg.

"Without that late goal and those final 40 seconds against Werder Bremen, the end of Samp's season would have been totally different," Di Carlo told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"The economic objectives and the motivation of the players would've been different. It is part of our business that someone has that little bit of luck. It's incredible that there were only 40 seconds to go. We all felt terrible, from the fans to the club and players."