On the eve of the match of the 21st round of the BKT series between Cremonese and Spezia, scheduled for Saturday January 20 at 14:00 at the Picco Stadium, Grigorosso coach Giovanni Stroppa spoke at a press conference. Here are his statements.
After the victory over Cosenza, he asked the team to be more courageous in individual matches. Is it just a matter of approach or do you think there is a structural flaw here?
“To prepare for Sunday’s match, we put in a lot of work during the week because our calendar was different from other teams in Serie B. There was a risk that we would have less polish and in fact we were a little short on legs. But I watched the match again and I have to say that the team showed an exceptional performance at the highest level. It was more balanced than what I stated after the race. The team goes very well in the last meters, but then both technical and emotional individuality, understood as the desire to finish the fight well.”
A player with these characteristics is Falletti. Will he be able to find a place tomorrow?
“We took him on for this and we were very successful in bringing him to us. Given Buonaiuto’s injury, he could be the one to bring certain qualities to the team. He has great motivation, he trains very well, let’s see if he can play right away or during the match. We hope he can be a leader on the field like Vazquez, Castagnetti and so many others who command the game.”
In terms of position, how does he fit into the grey-red chessboard?
“I’ll name the names straight: he can cover Buonaiuto and Collocolo’s zones as a midfielder, either left or right, or act as a second striker instead of Vazquez. He has always played in these positions and at the moment I don’t see an alternative.”
Could the lack of brilliance you mention have contributed to the overall decline of the team, especially with the usual aggressive strikers struggling to press?
“Everyone is involved in both phases: when we released the pressure from attack and midfield we pulled back, but looking back on the match it was not as negative and unstable as I described it. The team stayed on the field, then they lacked brilliance in defensive pressing and closing actions, but in the economics of the match we created opportunities that could immediately close it or increase the deficit, for example, counter-attacks from Tsadjut and Okereke. And then I didn’t see any important situations for Cosenza, except for the post and Ljungdahl’s save. My thoughts are positive, especially knowing what kind of work we came from. I doubly congratulate the guys who persevered and did a good job.”
Tomorrow we will play in a warm atmosphere and just after an argument with the team…
“Of course, a difficult situation awaits us, but for us. I don’t care about the home team, we must have the determination to see the episodes through to the end, no matter what happens in the stands. We clearly know what their situation is, but the game is too important to distract us. Let’s just think about our path.”
What worries you most about La Spezia?
“The pride of the players who want to come out of this difficult moment and the quality of the squad which is competitive and on par with those at the top of the table. Of course, when a negative start starts, things become more difficult because in such a hot environment the expectations are very high. I am concerned about their individual qualities, given that there are players of the absolute level and the highest category. The character aspect will be crucial, we will need to balance that pride well.”
The rankings seem to be split down the middle with the top teams gaining points, with the exception of some surprise results from the bottom ranked teams…
“This happens often in Serie B; it has always been a very high-level championship. Apart from squads and ambitions, there are various reasons that can have an impact, such as the period in which a team plays, which matters more than rankings. You should never give up and understand the pitfalls that may await you from match to match, from the environment to the technical qualities of some players. Tomorrow we will encounter people outside this category and we will have to pay even more attention.”
Spezia started a cycle of home victories, now we need to start again on the road…
“From a results point of view, yes, from a performance point of view, no. In Palermo we played a great match, all that remains is to regret the mistakes we made and the goals we conceded. I would like to always perform at the level at which we were punished with two episodes.”
Will anyone be unavailable? How’s Bianchetti?
“Bianchetti has made a full recovery. We didn’t talk about it, but in two weeks he lost 4 kg, and on Sunday he was completely weak, I replaced him because he was having difficulty breathing. Otherwise, the same players have been called up as last Sunday.”
About five months have passed since his arrival in Cremona. How much has the team grown over this period?
“I am happy and proud of what the guys are doing and the work of my headquarters. The team has a strong personality and it is a pleasure to see them play and it also reflects how I feel about football. Identity, of course, takes time to achieve, and I must say that the mental quality of this group was that it immediately made itself available. I didn’t think I could be so harsh, and of course it’s nice, but I’m never completely satisfied. There is always room for improvement.”
Falletti and Livieri arrived from the transfer market. Where else can we intervene?
“For me, it’s potentially everywhere if functional players come who can help us. It is important to find motivated, quality people who can raise the bar: this is both my will and the will of the club. If strong people come who can help us, that’s great.”
Source: Tutto Mercato Web
I am Ben Stock and I work in Athletistic as an author. My specialty is covering football news and other related topics. I have been writing for this website since the past 2 years, crafting compelling stories with the latest updates in the sports world. My articles have gained widespread appreciation amongst readers due to their accuracy and depth of research.
