TMW Radio
“We have analyzed the last period, we are happy because in the summer we built a very young team, a strong team that wants to grow and work with us. When you build such a young team you go through these periods and you have to take them into account, they have to grow on and off the pitch. We haven’t won for a month, we know we have to find victory again but we’ve faced teams who are in pretty good shape and so we’re struggling more.” The sporting director of Virtus Verona Matteo Corradini talks about the moment we live in the Venetian house during today’s episode of ‘A Tutta C’ on the frequencies of TMW Radio.
Can you give us your opinion on Mehic and the many young people you highlight every year?
“It’s our mission, we’ve been working like this for years and we’re happy that our profiles are always talked about. Already in the summer and last winter we sold young players, it is our goal to work on Serie D and on profiles that come out of the Primavera championship. We are pleased to have requests for our young players, for us this is the best way to grow Virtus Verona and obtain results in Serie C.”
Are you building a virtuous path, are you perhaps looking for more continuity?
“We always want to stay in the game and help the boys grow, there is always a way and way to get results. We know that the goal is always to win, but when you can’t win you have to bring the point home because it boosts morale. In the meantime, we hope to score points between now and Christmas, then get to the second round with more experience to get important results, get to safety and maybe even hope to do something more.”
You have many profiles who come from Serie D, others who come from the Primavera championship. Are you the point of reference for young people who come from different careers?
“We allow kids to make mistakes because in Italy we have to learn this, abroad they do it much better. We have many boys who either come from the amateurs or have never played in the first team, we give playing time but we play with 7-8 young players because we want to send a clear message. We believe in it, we let young people play because we believe in it and because we want to make them grow.”
Is there any idea to strengthen the squad in January?
“We are always vigilant on the market and we have some ideas, but we are very happy with the squad. We have not yet reached all the margins for improvement, we still have many important steps to take. If the opportunity arises we will seize it and be ready, but the intention is to grow a squad that still has a lot to express.”
How important is the continuity that you have been giving to Verona for years?
“I’m in the tenth season and I’m the youngest, this is funny. The entire management has been here for a lifetime, this gives great serenity to the entire club and the team, when we promise something we respect it, we don’t bite off more than we can chew. On and above all off the pitch we helped many guys who completed themselves, not least Marco Ruggero who made more than 13 appearances in Serie B and we took him from Serie D.”
What match will that be against Albinoleffe?
“We meet a strong team that has a similar policy to ours but has been doing it for several years, just look at the sale to a Serie A club made in the summer. We don’t think about big goals, we know that we have to get 43 points and the goal is to reach them as soon as possible. Then we’ll see what we can do later.”
How important are highly experienced players like Gomez and Daffara in the locker room?
“A lot, I mention the many players who set an example, it’s clear that they come to play football and no one gives them anything. But here at Virtus Verona you don’t just have to do your own thing, you have to be an example in everything, from how you train to how you eat and sleep. It’s a mission, we place a lot of responsibility on the most experienced players.”
You presented the Paralympic football team, how important is your presence in the area?
“After women’s football that we are trying to grow, we also cared a lot about this team, we believe that football is social and it is right to help those who have had less luck. We believed in them straight away, they were present at the match on Saturday and it was very nice. The players of the first team and all the coaches of the youth sector want to lend a hand, we didn’t expect all this support and for us it is an immense satisfaction. I don’t deny that other organizations are contacting us to see our reality and play friendlies, it’s giving us a lot and the nice thing is that we’re only at the beginning.”
You played against all your opponents, you only suffered against Padova and Vicenza. Are these two the strongest teams in the group?
“Both impressed me, given the numbers Padova is clearly more impressive. The average promotion is usually that of Vicenza, Padova is doing something unthinkable. They have long rosters, both have two teams. They are two clubs with which we work a lot, we have seen that they have a structure and an organization that both deserve to move up.”