Following the 1-0 win against BSC Young Boys, Mattia Croci-Torti analyses a crucial victory in his team’s European campaign. The bianconeri manager highlights, above all, the team’s solidity, having secured a fourth consecutive win without conceding a goal, whilst also pointing out the need for further improvement in the final third.
SOLIDITY AND CHANCES
Regarding the team’s current form, having once again secured a narrow victory, Croci-Torti identifies two key aspects in his assessment of the match: on the one hand, defensive solidity; on the other, significant attacking output that was not always converted into goals.
“Great solidity and a lack of efficiency up front. A team that has kept four clean sheets in a row deserves praise, from Saipi to von Ballmoos and everyone playing in front of them. Today, I think Lugano showed from the very first second that they wanted to win this match.”
This also forms the basis for his overall assessment of the result, which he considers fully consistent with what was seen on the pitch: “It’s never a foregone conclusion to beat Young Boys, but today we had plenty of clear-cut chances. The result is deserved, indeed thoroughly deserved, for the attitude shown.”
SECOND PLACE AND THE FINAL
SPRINT The win takes the bianconeri to 63 points and keeps the race for second place alive. Croci-Torti, however, prefers not to focus too much on goal difference, highlighting the importance of the head-to-head matches still to be played.
“We have two matches, two head-to-head encounters, so let’s try not to look at goal difference until the very end. For me, it was important to at least get a point today to keep our destiny in our own hands. With a point, we knew that winning the last three matches would mean second place secured.”
The fixture list now enters its decisive phase. After Young Boys, Lugano will face St. Gallen, Sion and Basel: “Next week we’re heading into a seven-day stretch featuring the three key matches of the season. All the teams still want a place in Europe, from St. Gallen to Sion, Basel and Lugano. We need to stay focused right up to the very last second.”
BELHADJ AND THE TEAM
Among the individual players, Croci-Torti also highlights Belhadj’s performance, noting his consistently strong display. The manager emphasises the midfielder’s journey, from a difficult season to a crucial contribution at a decisive moment.
“Belhadj is a player who is perhaps closer to my heart than many others, because his story is incredible. After last year’s serious injury, he didn’t immediately manage to find his rhythm, particularly physically. Dos Santos then burst onto the scene in his midfield role this year, but over the last month Belhadj has never given up.”
He then broadens the discussion to the squad and their ability to raise their game when it matters most: “In the end, what we’ve done over these nine and a half months doesn’t count. We’ve reached the stage of playing the decisive matches – four games in fourteen days. Strong teams step up their concentration, decision-making and focus at this stage. Belhadj took that step today.”
DELCROIX AND THE MENTALITY
Towards the end, Croci-Torti also cites the example of Delcroix, who took to the pitch despite a difficult night due to an ear problem. An incident the manager links to the team’s mentality and the path the side has taken in recent weeks.
“At eight in the morning I received a message saying he couldn’t play today because he’d gone to hospital with an ear problem. At half past nine he told me: ‘I’m resting, but I want to help the team today, coach.’ I had to take him off because he hadn’t slept and was suffering from cramps, but he wanted to help the team.”
A willingness which, according to Croci-Torti, sums up Lugano’s current form: “It’s that famous bond between men, a group that has no intention of giving up anything. But let’s not celebrate too much; let’s stay focused, because we’ve got seven days coming up where everything is at stake and we can’t afford to be distracted.”
The coach’s words thus accompany Lugano into the most important week of the Championship Group. On Sunday 10 May, again at Cornaredo, St. Gallen will arrive for a crucial head-to-head clash in the race for Europe.