Following the 2-1 victory over Basel, Mattia Croci-Torti appeared at the press conference, pleased with three crucial points. The FC Lugano manager acknowledged the difficulties faced by the team, particularly in the second half, but emphasised the character shown by his players, who were able to hold on to their lead despite fatigue and injuries.
A TEST OF CHARACTER
For Croci-Torti, the value of the victory lies above all in the team’s ability to adapt to the challenges of a difficult match: “Rather than a test of personality, it was a test of character. We know that playing on multiple fronts can mean we’re not as brilliant or sharp as we’d like, as well as causing a few injuries. Today, however, we fought together right up to the last second, conceding few real chances to Basel. We started the match well and were just as resilient in the second half. It’s a performance that fills me with pride.”
A victory achieved during a particularly intense period, in which the tight schedule is taking its toll physically. The forced substitutions of Moncada and Delcroix further complicated the management of the match, but the manager also highlighted the response from those called upon: “I knew it would be a difficult match. I’d seen the team looking tired in training, because fixtures like those against Getafe and Red Star take their toll. But we have players like Bichsel and Beckham Castro, who’d had less playing time in recent weeks and who came on today showing solidity and concentration.”
CHANGES DURING THE MATCH
Analysing the course of the match, Croci-Torti acknowledges how Moncada’s injury altered the initial balance, following a particularly effective start by the bianconeri: “I’d imagined the match would go exactly as it did in the first fifteen minutes. The two goals came from moves we’d practised during the week. We’d worked a lot on deep attacking runs with Moncada, but after he went off, we were no longer able to move the ball around as we wanted. We resorted to long balls too often, struggling to win the second balls.”
The manager nevertheless acknowledged the opponents’ merits, as they gradually took control of the game and forced FC Lugano to defend in their own half. It was a situation in which the bianconeri nevertheless managed to find the resources needed to secure all three points.
AWARENESS WITHOUT HYPE
With Young Boys’ defeat against Zurich and the lead over second place now extended to nine points, this victory takes on significant importance in terms of the league table. Croci-Torti, however, urges the team to remain level-headed and avoid placing too much emphasis on the current situation: “It’s only November; anything can still happen. It’s too early to talk about the league title. What we need to talk about, however, is self-awareness. Today we showed that we can win even when we’re struggling. I like to win by playing well, but when you can’t do that and still get the result, you have to be happy all the same.”
THE VALUE OF THE FANS
The day was made even more special by the first sell-out in the history of the AIL Arena, with 8,153 spectators in the stands. Croci-Torti paused to reflect on this milestone, also recounting his meeting with the club’s owner, Joe Mansueto, who was present at the stadium: “Today I wanted to thank him for everything he has built for the people of Lugano. This sell-out is also down to him, to the trust he has placed in us and in this project. If today we can experience these emotions and feel a crowd pushing us on even in the toughest moments, it’s because someone had the foresight to believe in all of this.”
These words mark an important victory in the bianconeri’s campaign; they must now recharge their batteries ahead of their next European fixture: on Thursday 5 November, again at the AIL Arena, Kauno Žalgiris will visit for the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.