Today’s edition of Tuttosport focuses on the words of Oddo who expressed himself regarding the Serie C playoffs.
Bold declarations never heard, at least when sober, remembering, instead, that alcoholic interview in Berlin after the World Cup was won… Indeed, since he returned to coaching Padova, compared to the 2021-22 season, he has been even more parsimonious in his words, despite the awareness of having a stronger squad overall.
Massimo Oddo, after 3 games and 7 points, the last 3 collected on Sunday in the Triveneto derby against Triestina, “escaped” a phrase that leaves no doubt about the belief he has in his team: “With these I win the playoffs.” It’s not a good shot for the square, which has seen and heard plenty of them in recent years, but it’s a statement that is confirmed by the numbers collected, where, it shouldn’t be forgotten, the most was achieved in the sensational first leg with 12 victories , 7 draws and 0 defeats and with Vincenzo Torrente on the bench.
The Biancoscudati ended the championship with 77 points: best second, only 3 defeats and a super defense with 28 goals. Only promoted Cesena and Juve Stabia did better. With these numbers you win championships, but this year the lion’s share went to Mantova, a surprise player for the entire C. Now, in view of the play-offs, the former Lazio and Milan full-back was asked if there are similarities with the team of Chiricò and Ronaldo who badly lost the final in Sicily 2 years ago… «There I only had 12-13 starters, here there is a group where there are 20 of the same level. Of course, in my head I have some players that I consider to be starters, but little changes between them because we are a fantastic group.”
From here to the play-offs there will be a big gap, Padova will only enter the national phase, and friendly matches against Virtus Verona are scheduled, probably on May 5th and Spal on the 11th to be played at Euganeo. After the match against Triestina, Oddo was also ironic by indulging a semi-serious question, a sign that he is convinced of what he saw on the pitch and of the strength of his team. To “Will you play a friendly match with Milan or Lazio?”, former teams of the Oddo footballer who was also captain with those prestigious shirts replied: “It makes no sense to play matches against such strong teams, just to play, to part that we don’t necessarily lose…”, then closing with a laugh.
