D'Aversa enjoys Empoli: "We made history. And those penalties under their curve..."

Empoli is in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. The first in its history. After Catanzaro, Torino and Fiorentina, the Tuscan team also knocked out Juventus (5-3 on penalties), who held the trophy. If Thiago Motta "feels ashamed" for his team's performance, D'Aversa is delighted, even for the team in the league they are coming off four defeats, nine in the last eleven games: "Yes I'm happy, I have to say that the boys did a feat tonight. And this feat must serve us for the championship in Genoa. We were coming off a heavy defeat and we reacted with pride. There were three boys from the youth sector on the pitch and this makes me even more proud. I didn't expect something like this because then beating Juve on penalties under the black and white curve is a feat. The performance gives me hope for the future".

And on the negative results of the last few weeks, D'Aversa says: "We have lost important men. It is no coincidence that Ismajli returned today and gave us a lot in defense. Playing with three if you are missing the three central players is tough. Marianucci and Ismajli have returned and so far I have adapted other players".