“I thought Pro Vercelli could do something more in the playoffs. It came out immediately, but sometimes when you find yourself in these moments, there is the need for an environment that brings you something more. Given the potential it had, the team could have at least gone through a round.” The coach Claudio Foscarini he spoke like this during the program ‘A Tutta C’ on TMW Radio then focusing on his other former teams (Albinoleffe and Cittadella) and taking a look at the Serie C season.
You led AlbinoLeffe to salvation last year, which was achieved again this year under the leadership of Giovanni Lopez. What is your assessment of the season?
“It was a positive season, I know the environment well. This year we were saved quite calmly, while last year there were difficulties and we only found ourselves in view of the play-outs against Mantua”.
Last year he had the opportunity to coach some important young players such as Brentan, Zoma and Doumbia.
“They played with a certain regularity, it is the path that Serie C clubs must undertake. These youngsters should not be imposed, it should come naturally to enhance their youth sector. The owners have the dream of carrying it forward and seeing a project that could resemble the idea of the Spanish cantera. Having a squad so full of your own kids, who then socially enhance the territory, is a wonderful thing. Andreoletti is doing a wonderful thing.”
What if they had told you that Mantua would have reached Serie B a year later?
“Look, I still remember the last press conference after the last match in Mantua. We won 1-0 in the first leg and drew 1-1 in the return leg. I remember saying that usually, after a year of suffering, teams often start again with redemption. I was convinced of this for AlbinoLeffe, but this was also true for Mantova. I think it was a lesson for the club, we started with a lot of humility this year and we worked hard. Sometimes football goes just like that. For the game he expressed I think he deserved the promotion.”
What are you seeing in this third round of the playoffs?
“All the matches played are balanced and I think that many have the possibility of overturning the result of the first leg. Perugia-Carrarese 0-2 is the slightly more sensational result, but for the other matches, such as Atalanta-Catania, the result can be overturned because the Nerazzurri have the means. In any case, Padova Torres and Avellino will be a problem for the others when they enter. I really like Avellino because I feel comfortable in that part of Serie B.”
What future does ‘your’ Cittadella have?
“I have written some pages of history, but there are those who have done more, like the sporting director. The first results I look for are theirs. In addition to a professional relationship I still have a friendship. Maybe this year they could have made the playoffs, but those eight consecutive defeats created difficulties. In recent years, however, the team has reached the playoffs several times and I hope that by dint of persistence the right year will come to reach the top flight.”
