Alexander Conticchioa double ex of the challenge between Lecce and Torino, talks about another clash between Salento and Granata to the microphones of Daily newspaper of Puglia: “That last match that was worth saving, at the Via del Mare, was unforgettable. Everyone had already given us up for relegation. It was May 7, 2000, Sesa had put Lecce ahead, Ferrante equalized, I scored the 2-1 goal. The stadium went crazy, the city went crazy. It was Lecce’s first salvation in Serie A, with Cavasin as coach, golden bench. I stayed until 2002, Corvino wanted to keep me. “It’s better for everyone if you stay in Lecce”, he told me. I was looking for the big team and I went to Torino, three years but they weren’t great seasons. After a few years Cairo went there and it was immediately a different story”.
About Serie A: “Football has changed. In Italy we had the strongest championship in the world, very strong players, teams like Juventus, Milan, Inter, a very high level, a very tough championship with four relegations. In my Lecce of the Semeraro family and Fenucci, there were the Ledesmas and the Vucinics, who I compared to Van Basten, Corvino was already producing boys who became real champions. Young Italians? We grew up playing on the street. Today everything is more organized. You look far ahead. The latest successes of the national team say important things about young Italians who are growing up. But there is always a great need to work well in the youth sectors”.
About Turin: “Vanoli is doing a good job, the team is there, I’m thinking of Ricci, Sosa, Ilic, Vojvoda, Pedersen. Coco, all internationals, like Walukiewicz. Toro has Gineitis as a key player in midfield and then in attack there is the bomber Zapata who is doing well and has now also become the team captain. For Lecce, Sunday will be a very busy afternoon. The Giallorossi also have many internationals in their squad. Like Dorgu, for example, who left his name on the winning goal with his Denmark team and who unfortunately will be absent due to suspension. I really like this guy, he is destined for great things. Corvino has been able to fill important departures like Umtiti first and Pongracic, Gendrey after, bringing in valuable guys, on the right wing and in midfield, and now hopes for the best Rebic, it’s a Lecce that can achieve the record of the third consecutive salvation in Serie A”.