exclusive
Empoli’s most-capped player with 308 appearances, Davide Moro tells us his thoughts on the Azzurri’s excellent start and how he is ready to dive into his new coaching career. Exclusively for Tuttomercatoweb.
Davide Moro, Empoli is one of the revelations of this start of the championship: zero defeats despite Roma, Bologna and Juventus being in the calendar
“The standings have to be seen at the end, but these results give morale. The team is convincing, it seems like they’ve been together for years. And this despite the fact that there are some new faces and others have left. I’m surprised by this unity and how they face the games. Now they have to strike while the iron is hot”.
The club was good at giving Roberto D’Aversa a chance, relaunching him after the reprehensible episode six months ago on the Lecce bench
“Excellent coach and he has shown it. What happened last year may have penalised him in terms of image, but not in terms of quality. Empoli saw in him a sense of revenge, of getting back into the game and regaining the confidence that was lost after that gesture”.
Fazzini is the jewel destined to end up on display at the end of the season
“Last year’s experience was useful to him, this year he started off much better and he deserves it. He’s a golden and humble boy, for me he’ll go far”.
You have coached the Empoli youth team since 2020. Is there any talent on the rise?
“There are some interesting youngsters in the Under 16s I coached, but it depends on them because it’s the mind that makes the difference. However, I’m confident that more than one will go to the first team.”
What is Empoli for you?
“A large part of my footballing life, he made me coach youth teams. He gave me confidence, awareness and made me grow. I was 13 when I entered the youth sector, going through the whole process. I am Tuscan by adoption”.
Best moment?
“Vari, let’s say that the victory from B to A with Mario Somma is special, because I had come from a year in Varese in C1 where we were relegated and then went bankrupt. And I found myself twelve months later in A. Then the UEFA Cup with Empoli and the 2012 playout final against Vicenza: two goals down with 20 minutes to go, we turned it around, won 3-2 and saved ourselves. A very strong emotion”.
Speaking of the UEFA Cup, why did you play with the second lines in Empoli’s only chance?
“Unfortunately it was a corporate decision that penalized us. If they made it, it was because they hoped to advance to the next round. And because they thought that match could take away strength in view of an important championship match, which we had to play against Siena. They hoped it would still be enough to advance to the next round but we found a Zurich in great form”
Let’s talk about your future
“I will start the UEFA Pro course in Coverciano on Monday and then I hope to coach a first team. I feel ready enough to start and I see myself well in the role of coach, football is my life”.
How much has coaching young people shaped you?
“A lot. After hanging up my boots, for two years in a row I didn’t want to coach on purpose, I needed to take a break. Not that I didn’t feel ready, I wasn’t ready enough. Playing and coaching are two opposite things, because you have to convey your ideas and they have to be clear. Starting with the youth teams made me grow a lot and gave me the awareness of being able to try with the big boys, then the work methodology differs a little. In the end, those are the things about football, everything changes”.
Who do you get your inspiration from?
“I’ve seen so many games, from the English leagues to the Spanish and Italian ones. I’ve worked with Sarri all my life and inevitably I’m taking from him. But I’ve taken a bit from everyone, getting an idea to put into practice.”
Favorite module?
“Beyond the modules there is the effectiveness with which you propose it. In an action the module changes 6-7 times and you have to put in concepts that you want to find again. Then maybe I can defend myself in another way”.
How much has football changed in recent years?
“The tactics have definitely changed a lot, because there are more and more teams that play and don’t throw the ball away. In my opinion there shouldn’t be an obsessive search for the free man, because there’s nothing wrong with dusting off the ball up front, maybe uglier or dirtier, but it can create situations. There’s nothing right or wrong, you have to be good at understanding the moment to use the most effective style. And you have to be credible in the eyes of the players, they have to see that you strongly believe in your idea of the game. You can remodel it, but not lose it”.