A prestigious victory, coming at the end of a thrilling match. FC Lugano beat FK Crvena Zvezda 3–2 in their UEFA Conference League League Phase opener at the Lugano Arena, securing three vital points against an opponent with a wealth of international experience. At the end of the match, Mattia Croci-Torti made no secret of his satisfaction with his players’ performance, emphasising in particular the character shown by the team and their ability to believe in themselves right until the very end, whilst not losing sight of their upcoming fixtures.
A CONFIDENT SIDE
The bianconeri manager’s first thoughts were on the team’s collective performance, built on a clear-headed handling of difficult moments and the ability to capitalise on chances in the second half. Croci-Torti highlighted how the team approached the match as planned, fully aware of the opposition’s strength: “We’re very pleased because I think we showed great character, great confidence and great belief in our work. We know what sort of team Red Star are – a side that plays fantastic football. The game plan was to endure a bit in the first half and then come out strong in the second, when the spaces were wider.”
This assessment is confirmed above all by the bianconeri’s attitude, as they managed to stay in the game even during the most difficult phases: “Even in the tough moments, I saw a team that was on the ball and never lost their heads. When you see the lads able to dig deep and know what might happen, it certainly makes you happy. Today, we can only congratulate the lads on a display of tremendous character.”
THE IMPACT OF SUBSTITUTIONS
Another key factor is the contribution of the players who come on as substitutes, who are able to change the pace of the game in the second half. Croci-Torti emphasises the importance of having a squad that is fully committed, in which even those who start on the bench must feel like key players: “To win these matches, we don’t need eleven players. We need a team that believes in itself, with everyone ready. Those on the bench must believe in it wholeheartedly. Today, for the umpteenth time, I’m thinking of those who came on and gave the team a tremendous boost.”
Among the key figures in the comeback was Dereck Moncada, whose impact during the match was highlighted by the manager: “When you have players like Dereck, you can really believe you can turn the match around whilst it’s still being played, because he comes on with such intensity. But Moncada must feel, in every respect, that he is a first-team regular in this squad. Only then can we achieve incredible results.”
PRIDE AND HUMILITY
The belief that they could complete the comeback was also evident in Croci-Torti’s reaction after the goal that made it 2–2, when, rather than giving in to the celebrations, he immediately urged his players to go for the win: ‘I rushed over to tell them we had to win the match and not to celebrate. I was sure we could win it; in fact, I urged everyone towards the centre of the pitch.’
The victory takes on special significance given the prestige of the opposition, a side accustomed for years to competing in Europe’s top competitions. It is a source of satisfaction that the manager wishes to savour, whilst not losing his sense of proportion: “These comebacks give us a huge boost. We’ve beaten Red Star, a team that plays in the Champions League or Europa League every year and has the European Cup in its honours list. Let us be happy today, but from tomorrow we must keep our feet on the ground, because a completely different match awaits us on Sunday.”
This European success therefore represents a significant confidence boost for FC Lugano, who must now channel the evening’s enthusiasm into fresh energy for the rest of the season, starting with their next cup fixture on Sunday against Pully Football.
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