Will they play for a victory with a view to the playoffs or will Reggiana and Modena be satisfied with a draw which would mean safe salvation for both? Paolo Bisoli responds: “It’s a delicate and important match, where we will give our all to win the three points. The victory over Sudtirol freed us from the five kilo backpack that we carried on our shoulders and which weighed us down in everything, now that we are more calmly we face the derby with great desire and intensity, respecting an opponent who has important values because if you don’t have them you won’t win in Venice and Palermo. But we know that we have them too and the four points won in the last two matches prove it preclude me from anything: if we were to win the three games that still remain, we would have a small percentage to play in the playoffs but the same goes for Reggiana too. We have the same numbers in the standings but we are two different teams, Modena has more quality in the middle on the pitch, the Reggiana is more capable”. If by playing at 6pm when other matches start at 3pm he can influence the players: “Yes, someone could be, because at 44 points there can be mathematical salvation, which is our first objective. But I prepared the match to win it, not we must leave nothing on the street.” Like Modena, Reggiana also doesn’t have a goalscorer: “Playing without a key striker to mark can also be a disadvantage. They play with Gondo up front and three very mobile attacking midfielders who are difficult to identify, skilled at getting into spaces. I look at my opponents but what interests me is to enhance the characteristics of my players, to have a super organized and unpredictable team.” On the use of Bozhanaj: “I’m sure that starting from the bench Bozhanaj will give me seven, while starting from the first minute he could only give me three. It’s an important card to play during the match, I’d be crazy to deprive myself of this opportunity.” If he is making evaluations for next season’s team: “This Modena already has a very important backbone, it should not be forgotten that now we cannot have elements of Gerli’s value. There are really interesting young people, who if left to grow calmly can give us something pleasant. The results come first but I keep an eye on the individuals.” On the choice to come to Modena: “I had received 5-6 other offers but this was the best choice I could have made. I found an environment with the same values as me, a serious, ambitious and Italian company. I was a little worried for the hostility I might have encountered from the fans but we understood each other straight away.”
Rossano Donnini
