The director and general manager of Venice Filippo Antonelli gave a long interview to Pescara TV, the team he played for, Rete 8. These are his words on the orange-green.
Serie A has arrived:
“It was a 20-month journey, when I arrived the environment and team were not in good shape. We intervened in January trying to find union between all the components, environment, club, team, fans, coach. With a great job by Vanoli too, we made the playoffs in eighth place last year, preparing the group to do something exceptional, we succeeded.”
Gytkjaer as decisive in Venice as in your old Monza:
“This boy has always been there in important matches, he reached 13 goals, he brought many points even without being a starter because we have another great boy like Pohjanpalo. From working with Berlusconi and Galliani I take away the fact that strong forwards are needed.”
You are on your fourth career promotion:
“With Berlusconi and Galliani the desire to win has increased and it is a lifestyle, equally important when you don’t win is to get as high as possible. I won 4 championships but when I didn’t win them we got to the playoffs, this helps create a winning mentality.”
4 championships won as a manager, 2 as a player, the score is starting to matter:
“We have to stay in the present, when we win we have to celebrate the right thing, now we have to think about the year in Serie A where we will have to fight and sell our lives dearly, our victory will be our salvation”.
It was also the Serie A of a former Pescara player like Zampano:
“Zampano had an excellent championship, he was among the protagonists and is one of the most experienced guys in our squad. I made fun of him in the playoffs, I told him that he had lost two finals and couldn’t lose the third, the first thing he said to me at the end of the match ‘you see director, we did it!’, I’m happy for him because he is boy with potential and can show that he can fit in Serie A.”
Mesik was on your list last summer:
“I won’t hide it, we followed him. However, I then had the chance to sign guys I liked more, I’ve always followed the Pescara guys because I’m a fan and because he’s working well developing interesting guys, if I can sign a guy with equal opportunities I’ll take him from Pescara.” .
Vanoli chose to go to Turin:
“We thank him for the great work done, we worked well. Now we’ll find another one. Maybe I expected it because in any case we already had an exit clause in the renewal, this is football. Venice is a place where you have to come and work hard, if the motivation is no longer there it’s right to go. I think motivation is everything, we will look for another coach. Vivarini? I have excellent memories, this year he did very well, as identikit fits. Today Venice has the opportunity to showcase not only players but also coaches, thanks for the suggestion (laughs ed.)”.
