Filippo Antonellisporting director of Venezia, spoke to the microphones of SKY after the third promotion in five years. “I’m very happy, I also want to underline the promotion from D to C for Monza, so there are four. That was a magical journey that I remember with pleasure, today’s journey I still have to digest, as I heard before live it was an extraordinary journey, a masterpiece, starting 20 months ago from the penultimate position, from last year’s playoffs, the continuity of this year, 35 points in the first leg, 35 in the second leg, 3 wins and a draw in the playoffs.”
How did you find the club 20 months ago?
“It was an environment where the owners didn’t communicate with the fans, there was pressure, the players didn’t understand Italian football. In January we wanted to overturn the alchemy of the group, we made many exit operations, carrying out a salvation that… Now we’re talking about promotion, but at times we thought we wouldn’t make it, until March-April we were fighting not to be relegated. Then we got to the playoffs, what we created was looking for chemistry between the team, the coach, the fans and the environment. This promotion is the symbol of Venice, of the Union with the city.”
On the sale of Johnsen.
“We reasoned with the numbers in hand, that transfer was necessary at that moment, also thinking technically. We could do the good of this team, we had great faith in the coach. With the transfer of Johnsen we returned to playing in a way that he knew very well. He is a passionate technician, who can be instinctive and emotional at times. We know that he is a great professional and that he would take us to the end. There were moments of tension resolved like a good family.”
On Vanoli.
“We clearly hope he can stay among us, but now there is the market for coaches. We expect a response from him, there have been many rumours. Let’s wait and understand what will happen. If he were to leave it would be a big loss. Go ? I would like to be proven wrong.”
About Teesmann.
“Almost all the players, except three – one whose contract is expiring and two on loan – are under contract. We would like to move forward with the majority of this group. This is the club’s strategy, there has been a change in category and there’s no intention of selling, right now we want these players to play in Serie A, they can grow even more.”
On Gytkjaer.
“He smells these matches, he wants to determine something important.”
