The Catania sporting director, Daniele Faggiano, presented himself to the press and the city this morning:
“Catania is Catania. I come to a city and not to a category. I’m a southern man so I love these people. I won’t hide from you that I looked for Grella sometimes. I am proud to be the sporting director of Catania and to represent Catania. We must all get on the boat for better or for worse. When we go away there will be many of us, we live for football here. Before coming, it’s normal that I thought about it: I came to Catania and that’s it, I didn’t reject Serie B. I’m so hungry to do well, to leave a mark in this city, to be able to return in 20 years and be recognized for something positive. I place Catania at the top. For me it is the sun, Etna and much more. Speaking with Grella and seeing the desire that she has and that she passed on to me, I couldn’t refuse. Sometimes the conversations are flat but this was not the case. I have lived for football since I was little so I get excited when I go to a stadium like that. Catania behaved in the right way without me.
The first things to do? Know the environment I would like to start by not talking about the past anymore. I will bring my experience and try to look forward. I will always look at the balance sheets and not the big names. It is necessary to do things well and wisely. Footballers who believe in this square must come, players with desire and hunger. If the athletes don’t have the Catania creed they won’t come. We have to try to get functional players. In the meantime, we also have to wait for the coach. We are working to ensure that we arrive at the retreat with 70% of the work already done. Footballers must come with the right enthusiasm: you need to work and fight. Catania will train at Cibalino and at the stadium. The coach must be determined with modern and courageous ideas. You have to go to the goal and not play a waiting game. You need to get a concrete goal. It won’t be easy but that’s the intent. I’m edgy but I get along with everyone. My comparison is for the good of Catania, we must take this club as far as possible.
Choosing the coach is important: it’s the first thing. We have to pay attention to the smallest details. We have to work but this is the thing that scares me the least. We must try to do thoughtful things. There will be no revolution. I prefer to have an intense market in June than after. Not all donuts come with a hole however I will do my best so that great things can be done. We will hire a technician who satisfies us and the name is not important. I will only be happy if we all hug each other on June 30th. The coach must be a thoughtful choice even if football is not an exact science. I won’t deny that the vice president has ideas that coincide with mine. We need the right motivation, we will always carry forward our ideas. We will bring functional players who have appropriate behavior. The psychology of a footballer is important, even in our management towards the locker room. Athletes such as Chiarella, Cianci and many others… they are important players. We are talking about an important market, however, they are armored.”
We need to improve the infrastructure of the South but really because I see that here there is a lot of talk and little is done. Bureaucracy wastes time. Maybe these men don’t go to the stadium and don’t know what joy it creates. In the offices you experience a different climate. Infrastructure serves the city, not just companies.
Mimmo Toscano? it represents a good mix like others but you have to look at yourself and make a choice. We don’t take someone because he’s handsome or nice, we’ll evaluate. It’s definitely one of the names. We want to try to have contacts with the closest local clubs, while also trying to send some athletes on loan to other teams, thus opening a collaboration. This way of doing things fuels territoriality.”
(photo: Catania FC)
