05/23/2024 8.20pm
It was important to win and Aranova did it, beating San Martino 3-1. But the margin on Saturday will force Marini’s team to face Torrita with the further need to bring home the full spoils. And the task will be absolutely difficult considering that the decisive challenge of the triangular tournament will be played in Tuscany. We enter the climate of Torrita-Aranova with Emilio Salvagnini, central and when needed lateral, born in 1978, in the rossoblù shirt for eleven seasons so much so that he has become its symbol.
– In the meantime, a balance on last Saturday’s performance and in particular on your personal performance given that you scored a brace?
“You’re right, it was important to win, but the 3-1 still forces us to get a full result in Siena too. Last Saturday we didn’t play as we know how, we were a bit subdued, we lacked match rhythm but that’s okay because they hadn’t played an official match for a month. As for my double, I’m very happy: I’m physically well and I dedicate it to my teammates, because without them it wouldn’t have happened… and I hope to repeat myself.”
Aranova arrived at the national stages in a surprising way given that they had obtained qualification at the last minute and faced the Lazio playoffs certainly not as favourites. Could the enthusiasm of the success in Ferentino, added to the positive start against San Martinio, give an extra push to bring the outcome of Saturday’s match in your favor? What does Salvagnini think?
“In the playoffs we always believed in it, even when things weren’t going well: then we became aware that we could do it and from there we started playing for each other, cementing a fantastic group and for this reason that we are where we are. We knew we weren’t the favorites but it was the extra motivation, which pushed us to always do better, we trained hard and the work paid off. We won the final in Ferentino, then came the victory at home against San Martino: these are certainly results that give us an extra boost. In Siena we will give our best to bring home the qualification.”
– How did you prepare a match that must be won at all costs and, above all, how should it be approached and faced on the pitch?
“We don’t know Torrita but they are certainly an excellent Visino team that placed second in the Tuscan group. Our coach prepared her very well by working on athleticism and very specific game plans. It must be approached with maximum concentration and faced with sacrifice and the desire to win: but we are ready for this, united, we will give it our all.”
