ROME (AFP) - Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone has denied he is responsible for the team's relegation from Serie A despite selling their best two players.
Last season, inspired by the formidable front pairing of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, Sampdoria finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.
Garrone fell out with Cassano in October and banished him from the first team squad, selling him to AC Milan in January.
But then he also cashed in on Pazzini, letting him leave for Inter Milan.
Loan signings Federico Macheda from Manchester United and Jonathan Biabiany from Inter failed to impress and substitute forwards Nicola Pozzo and Massimo Maccarone were far from rip-roaring successes either.
Garrone has wiped his hands of any blame.
"From the Champions League to relegation to Serie B is inexplicable. We made mistakes but we also had difficult situations to manage," he said.
"And the team earned few points in the second half of the season.
"The departures of Cassano and Pazzini made a difference to the team but the squad wasn't a Serie B squad.
"The Cassano situation distracted the team, for three months it was covered a lot in the press.
"Then the general manager left in mid-season and that left a void. The engine came to a halt and this is the result."
Cassano had insulted Garrone when asked to attend a social event and although he later publicly apologised, the club president refused to forgive him.
Garrone refused to accept he was to blame for banishing, then selling the player: "With Cassano we would do the same all over again. Certain behaviour is unacceptable.
"In fact, I would have said something to the national team which should have not just the best players but also those who are symbols of good behaviour. This makes me bitter.
"Those who do like Cassano exclude themselves, whereas the Pazzini situation was different.
"He had the chance of a lifetime and asked to be sold to Inter and it was right to accommodate him."
Sampdoria began the season with Domenico Di Carlo at the helm but he was replaced in March by Alberto Cavasin, who was hired until the end of the season.
Although moved aside, Di Carlo is still under contract with Samp for another season but Garrone says neither he nor former coach Luigi Delneri, recently fired by Juventus, are in the running to take over the club in Serie B.
"Not Di Carlo and not Delneri. We'll make a decision this week. A lot of names are being mentioned but we'll work in silence," he said.
Last season, inspired by the formidable front pairing of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, Sampdoria finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.
Sampdoria were in contention for a European finish this season until selling both Cassano and Pazzini, after which their form collapsed and they were relegated.
Most strikingly, they scored a paltry 14 goals in 22 games since the turn of the year.Garrone fell out with Cassano in October and banished him from the first team squad, selling him to AC Milan in January.
But then he also cashed in on Pazzini, letting him leave for Inter Milan.
Loan signings Federico Macheda from Manchester United and Jonathan Biabiany from Inter failed to impress and substitute forwards Nicola Pozzo and Massimo Maccarone were far from rip-roaring successes either.
Garrone has wiped his hands of any blame.
"From the Champions League to relegation to Serie B is inexplicable. We made mistakes but we also had difficult situations to manage," he said.
"And the team earned few points in the second half of the season.
"The departures of Cassano and Pazzini made a difference to the team but the squad wasn't a Serie B squad.
"The Cassano situation distracted the team, for three months it was covered a lot in the press.
"Then the general manager left in mid-season and that left a void. The engine came to a halt and this is the result."
Cassano had insulted Garrone when asked to attend a social event and although he later publicly apologised, the club president refused to forgive him.
Garrone refused to accept he was to blame for banishing, then selling the player: "With Cassano we would do the same all over again. Certain behaviour is unacceptable.
"In fact, I would have said something to the national team which should have not just the best players but also those who are symbols of good behaviour. This makes me bitter.
"Those who do like Cassano exclude themselves, whereas the Pazzini situation was different.
"He had the chance of a lifetime and asked to be sold to Inter and it was right to accommodate him."
Sampdoria began the season with Domenico Di Carlo at the helm but he was replaced in March by Alberto Cavasin, who was hired until the end of the season.
Although moved aside, Di Carlo is still under contract with Samp for another season but Garrone says neither he nor former coach Luigi Delneri, recently fired by Juventus, are in the running to take over the club in Serie B.
"Not Di Carlo and not Delneri. We'll make a decision this week. A lot of names are being mentioned but we'll work in silence," he said.
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