by Marcello Ferron
Fresh from two consecutive victories against Gubbio and Virtus Entella, tomorrow (Sunday 21 April) Spal will try to close the issue of survival at the Mazza against Pineto and also keep their playoff hopes alive. Mimmo Di Carlo doesn’t make calculations and wants the 3 points against the Abruzzo team.
“The most important thing tomorrow is to play the match in the best way possible in front of our fans. As I have always said, every match for us is an opportunity to try to do the best. We must try to get the 3 points, knowing full well that Pineto will also try to do the same to try to get to the playoffs. The difference is that we will have the warmth and drive of our audience on our side.”
On Saiani’s injury and the general situation of the unavailable players: “At an athletic level the team is doing well, we are sorry for Saiani, who will not be in the match as well as Carraro, Bruscagin, Antenucci, Bassoli and Sits. Arena will be back in the squad and Tripaldelli will also be back, we will decide on the lineup this evening, we have seen that whoever plays is giving positive responses.”
Spal has managed to rediscover good defensive solidity in recent weeks: “It would be nice to finish in a tie between goals scored and goals conceded, today we have a team that on a character level expresses the thoughts of the fans and the club, that is to fight until the end and not to give up when it goes under. Tomorrow we have a difficult and grumpy match ahead of us, we will have to be good at interpreting it in the right way and I am convinced that we will do very well in front of our fans.”
Tomorrow there will be no calculations: “For us coaches the point doesn’t exist, we’ve been working all week to be able to beat Pineto in front of our fans. On the pitch we will have to give the right answers to them and to the club.”
On the path of the young blue and whites this season: “At the beginning I saw them very well, they had an excellent training camp. During the season if someone doesn’t play sometimes they can perform less, but today all our boys are ready, they made mistakes and positive things, the growth of the team is also thanks to them who never gave up and always stayed on track together to the more experienced, everyone gave something more.”
On the role of Valentini and the veterans: “Today our club can say that the value of the players has grown, our fans see a combative team. Valentini, like Peda, Fiordaliso and the other defenders, has made an important journey, but I want to focus on the team and tomorrow. I want to see further growth from the team in these last 2 games, we have to finish on a high.”
“In view of tomorrow the players are all well – continues Di Carlo – we could see Zilli-Petrovic as an attacking pair, just as we could see Zilli-Rabbi or Zilli-Maistro, because they are all well. Zilli will definitely play because at the moment he is an important reference for us, we will have to raise the pace and play as a team. As for Siligardi, he is a superior category player, today he is better than 20 days ago, but there are also other players who have worked hard. Today Siligardi can be a starter but we don’t know for how many minutes, if he comes in for 25-30 minutes he can make an important difference.”
In closing, Di Carlo spoke about Galeotti: “Already in training camp we saw that he had great qualities, when I came back I found him again and since Alfonso wasn’t at his best I decided to let him play. He is growing more and more game after game, he still needs to gain further confidence, he is young, but what matters to him is how he entered. I also expect further growth from him, the goalkeeper is fundamental in a team.”
Probable Spal lineup (4-4-2): Galeotti; Ghiringhelli, Fiordaliso, Tripaldelli; Maistro, Nador, Buchel, Dalmonte; Petrovic, Zilli.
Tags: Spal Pineto chasing hat trick
