Lecce is safe in Serie A for the ninth time in its history, the second in a row of the Sticchi Damiani era. There the Giallorossi’s stay in Serie A is well deserved given the way the championship was always conducted outside the relegation zone, as already happened in the 2022/2023 season.
For the first time in their history, the Giallorossi kick off the party without playing. Consequences of today’s football. The electricity of reaching a result with trepidation on the pitch is missing as in many other unforgettable moments in our history, but, starting from Monday at Via del Mare, there will be no lack of emotions in the embrace between the team, fans and the city that has experienced a prologue already on Thursday afternoon during training at Via del Mare.
Part of the credit for their salvation also goes to their explosive start Roberto D’Aversacoach of the month of August after 11 points in the first 5 games without ever losing. Lecce never gives up, comeback Lazio already at his debut with Almqvist and Di Francesco, and gives palpitations and celebrations in the final minutes. The only goal of 2023/2024 Strefezza seals the success with Salernitana e Oudin honor the number 10 shirt beating Genoa.
Another five useful results, four draws and the home victory with Frosinone, for a change in the 90th minute (Ramadani from outside) gave them a happy Christmas (the defeats against Inter and Atalanta were painless). In the previous “X” signs, other milestones, strictly in injury time. The triumph of Via del Mare after the goal of Little ones in the 94th minute with Milan (it would have been 3-2) turned into anger and the historic penalty awarded by Wladimiro Falcone and scored in the 100th minute by Piccoli.
The crazy comeback against Fiorentina, from 1-2 to 3-2 in injury time (and when otherwise) with the first goal Dorguwas the only one flash of light in the cold wintermade up of more or less major defeats and recriminations for a team that rarely failed to perform. Between Frosinone (27th), Verona (28th) and Salernitana (29th) the crossroads, and fears and turning points of the year. Draw achieved through suffering in Ciociaria and home defeat against the former Baroni where D’Aversa almost literally loses his head (headbutt to Henry after the final whistle) and bench. The company takes the opportunity and mandates Corvino to proceed with his dismissal. D’Aversa leaves Lecce in a large group of teams fighting but -1 from the red zone.
The restoration has the face, ideas and words of Luca Gotti. The Venetian coach finds an electric team and after a difficult week he instills self-esteem and tranquility in the boys and wins, also suffering, at Salerno (own goal by Gyomber), against the other former Liverani. The break fuels self-esteem and allows the winning experiments at Gotti: Gallo e Dorgu to the left, Pongracic at the center of the construction, Ramadani-Blin together in midfield and the offensive pairing of Krstovic-Piccoli.
Gotti’s Lecce is another team. Regrets at home with Roma, defeat at Milan and then the winning attack. Pierotti and Sansone discard the three points that are running out against Empoli. In Reggio Emilia, the point of no return of the season. A sea of Giallorossi fans fills the Mapei Stadium and Lecce dominates (0-3). The draws with Monza and Cagliari, thanks to the results of the competitors, are the steps towards salvation, the first for a coach who took over in Serie A in Lecce. The start of the celebrations was news minutes ago. The defeats of Frosinone (0-5 by Inter at home) and Cagliari (at San Siro) stop calculations to which, in many years of suffering, we were actually unaccustomed.
Gotti’s great merit in enhancing human capital is the hand of the skilled chef in enhancing the ingredients selected by Pantaleo Raven and Stefano Trinchera. Without the champions Hjulmand and Umtiti, Pongracic he composed the stainless couple with Baschirotto, Falcon he was decisive in the most difficult moments with saves that brought the solid pile of points and on the flanks Gendrey and especially Rooster they raised the bar of their performance. Blincaptain, like the previous two seasons, rose to prominence in the Primavera. Krstovicbomber and hard worker, together with Little ones he brought as a dowry the double figure requested by the tip.
Unexpectedly, in some ways quietly, on a night in May Lecce can begin to reveal its love for its Lecce. On Monday we will expect a very strong hug. LECCE, YOU ARE STILL THERE!
