“I was struck by Juve Stabia, with a young and quality squad, with youngsters who had also done well in other environments and a coach who I have already known for a few years. He had the merit of transmitting his temperament to the team, an aggressive and always proactive attitude. I’m not that surprised, but no one could have expected a season like this. Maybe Avellino, Benevento and Crotone fell short of expectations at the start of the championship and Juve Stabia found an easier path, but they have great merits.” The sports director Antonio Mariano Fernandezformerly of Virtus Francavilla and Fidelis Andria among others, thus praises them Wasps during the ‘A Tutta C’ broadcast on the frequencies of TMW Radio, then focusing on the play-offs which will start tomorrow.
Can Catania be the loose cannon of the playoffs?
“I had the opportunity to watch Catania several times and they made a tremendous effort, they lacked continuity and this is why the results failed. In the Italian Cup they demonstrated that anything can happen in a single match, they are a cynical team who also know how to win in the final minutes. However, he does not arrive in the playoffs in great physical, technical and psychological condition. I believe that teams that reached the playoffs with different results and a better mental condition have an advantage. I’m thinking, for example, of Benevento who have found continuity since Auteri’s arrival and are a team to fear in these playoffs.”
What role can Avellino have instead?
“At the start of the championship, Avellino was a team that aimed to win. He had a change of coach, with Pazienza he had regained his enthusiasm also thanks to good results. He then slowed down, before finding his way again towards the end. It’s a team with quality, the coach has given personality and intensity, he has what it takes to play in an important playoff.”
Another team being monitored is Vicenza, can they win these playoffs?
“Yes, the same thing made for Avellino can be valid for Vicenza. They set out to win and then Mantua won the group with a path comparable to that of Juve Stabia. In Mantua, Possanzini showed off a quality team that played good football, they didn’t make any proclamations at the start of the season but they worked intelligently, putting the coach in the best conditions to do well, as also happened at Juve Stabia. They had the merit of maintaining great continuity which allowed them to win the group. Padova had an important season and played against Mantua until the direct clash and I believe that Padova can do very well in these playoffs.”
Is there a competitor missing for promotion to group B?
“With the arrival of Calabro, Carrarese has found a continuity of results and important performances, it has grown a lot and arrives in good shape at these playoffs. Torres was a surprise, she had a great championship, she slowed down at the end of the tournament but there was a Cesena ahead of her who had a similar championship to Catanzaro from start to finish two years ago. Torres did her best, I believe that even in these two weeks several teams have the opportunity to recharge their batteries, recover injured players and prepare for the playoffs as best as possible. Carrarese perhaps has more quality than Torres and can do well in these playoffs.”
The two second teams will also be on the pitch tomorrow. Is the second team project valuable for Italian football?
“Certainly if the second teams are made the way Juventus and Atalanta are doing they can only do well in Serie C. I have often seen Atalanta play, they play aggressive football and have done very well. Both Atalanta and Juventus can play without pressure in these playoffs, they have players of quality and perspective so they are teams that can cause a lot of trouble.”
Who impressed you the most among the young people this season?
“In my opinion Sgarbi is a player who has important prospects, he has been a bit up and down but I believe he has the technical and physical qualities to compete in other categories. Then it is clear that these young people must find the right environment to grow and have continuity. There is another player who is less young than him, Pattarello from Arezzo, these are guys who in my opinion are ready to play in a different championship like Serie B.”
