Let’s immediately clear the field of a cliché: genius and recklessness do not always go hand in hand. Luca Gotti – 10 points in 5 games with two away victories – is confirmation of this: even the seemingly craziest choices can come from those who make balance their guiding star.
Dorgu and the others: the “follies” of genius
Many people advise against two attackers if you have to fight for safety and not overextend yourself: promptly proven wrong when you see Krstovic and Piccoli passing the ball to each other and putting two touches into the opponent’s goal as hasn’t happened for some time. Almost everyone was doubtful about Ramadani and Blin together on the pitch: let’s take a look at the performances and see who was right. Everyone, absolutely everyone, considers the move to move Dorgu to the offensive wing as high risk. But how? Is he the natural replacement for Gallo, transformed from reserve to “ticket” due to the gusts on the left flank? Madness. Yes, madness in the sense that it takes genius to see beyond the ordinary: the former Primavera gem forward and back, still a little inexperienced but already a total footballer, nice left foot but capable of scoring with the right. Stop the highlights with Sassuolo in the 15th minute, please. And he, Gotti from Polesine, commenting on TV as if nothing had happened: «Dorgu? We will see him on many other stages.”
In recent weeks, analysts have explained the transition from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 very well, but it is not just a question of graphs with arrows and counter-arrows. Alternative between bottom-up constructions or long throws. We like Gotti because he starts from the players, adapts to what he finds and brings out the best in them. «The two attackers? They lived as antagonists, now they work together to cooperate.” The game at the service of objectives, the schemes at the service of talents. A blessing for those who don’t like the enormous ego of certain coaches and the storytelling of the guru on the bench who is more important than the players on the pitch.
The differences with Corvino and Sticchi Damiani
Gotti is what Lecce needed. Turtleneck sweater under the jacket instead of tracksuits, smile sketched only for a few seconds, the photo in the library instead of the selfie on the Ionian Caribbean, intense looks rather than big hugs. Let’s face it: the opposite of what we are, but precisely for this reason necessary. In the press conference, the director Corvino vented in a Salento style against everything and everyone and he remained silent and listened like a sphinx. President Sticchi Damiani putting his hand on his heart under the Curva and him just enough on television – «Extraordinary fans? I would say yes” – despite knowing full well how much this crowd pushes the team.
The relationship with Lecce
Colleagues too often protest, he preaches “humility and unity”. Gotti is like that. Less heat than usual, but it doesn’t matter. Less patting on the back, but who cares. Less passionate, but patience.
Gotti is ideal for the Giallorossi people accustomed to the humor of those who live on the outskirts and think of being at the center of the world: ready to attack someone at the first opportunity after having praised them, ready to get on the winner’s bandwagon after saying so plague and horns. He of few words, we are a flood that sometimes we would do well to stop. He is direct and without frills, we are lost in our chosen baroque way of being. So much so that we suspect that he might not like pasticciotto and that he prefers the severe Romanesque style to the elaborate Lecce stone of Santa Croce. One who, with the exception of the Reggina youth team, built his entire career in the North with peaks of excellence in distant Udine. A Venetian who grew up on the banks of the Po and was catapulted here where there aren’t even any rivers.
Let’s not drag him into our endless debates and our endless discussions. We will stay like this, he won’t change. Luckily: of him and, above all, of Lecce. So far away and yet so close, to paraphrase the title of a famous film. So different, so indispensable. Take everything away from us, even a little sea and sun if you want. Take everything away from us, but not Luca Gotti.
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© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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