Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini says he's feeling good about things in Genoa.

The 26-year-old was speaking on his return from international duty where he found many of his Sampdoria team-mates.

"Undoubtedly it's a great pleasure to be called up together with many team-mates," he said. "This makes the club and also the fans proud.

"Now the hope is to continue doing well also in the League, so as to add more names to this list.

"I am happy for the two wins with Italy: they have given enthusiasm and confidence to the squad. It wouldn't have been possible to start any better.

"I have always lived football with great serenity, but there's no doubt that the experience at the last World Cup was bad for everyone of us.

"That's why we were so animated by this great desire to start again.

"If I look inside myself and I think back to many years ago, I understand that I have changed. But I wouldn't say 'changed' means 'matured'.

"Nevertheless I recognise now that I prepare for the games and I live them in a different way with respect to before. I play with a cooler head. I have acquired the consciousness of my own qualities, which before were unknown."