FC Lugano beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2–1 in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off and go into the second leg with a one-goal lead. At the end of the match at the AIL Arena, Mattia Croci-Torti highlighted, above all, the dedication shown by the team, whilst keeping the focus on the fact that the tie is still wide open ahead of the return leg in Batumi in a week’s time.
A 180-MINUTE
CHALLENGE The win puts the bianconeri in a favourable position heading into the return leg, but for Croci-Torti, the first 90 minutes also confirmed the quality of the opposition: “It’s absolutely crucial because we’re going there with two out of three possible results, so we certainly have an advantage. However, as I’ve said many times before, this is a match that lasts 180 minutes and this was only the first half. We’ve gained a lot of confidence; we know we’re a good team, but we’ve seen once again the quality of Maccabi. We’re keeping our feet firmly on the ground.”
The manager’s satisfaction stems above all from the attitude the team maintained throughout the match: “We must be pleased to have seen my team fight from the first to the last second. That was what I’d asked for, and I saw a truly special level of dedication from the lads.”
REACTION, CHANCES AND QUALITY
After Maccabi equalised early in the second half, Lugano quickly regained the lead through a penalty converted by Grgić. Croci-Torti analysed that phase of the match as follows: “We didn’t start the second half badly; in fact, we had a huge chance. Then we conceded the goal and it certainly weighed a bit on our legs mentally in the minutes that followed, but we regained our confidence and I think we deserved this win.”
The manager also highlighted the chances created throughout the evening, whilst not hiding a slight sense of regret at not having extended the lead: “I think we had the best chances. I’m thinking of Cimignani, Dos Santos and also Moncada’s final efforts. There’s a bit of regret, but above all a great deal of pride in having won. I knew it would be difficult to do so.”
THE STRENGTH OF THE SQUAD
Among the aspects most appreciated by Croci-Torti is the contribution from the substitutes’ bench. In particular, the manager highlighted Dereck Moncada and the team’s current form: “Moncada isn’t a player who came to Lugano to play 20 or 30 minutes; in my view, he’ll become a star in the future. We’re using him in this way at the moment and we’re absolutely delighted. The team spirit is very positive because even those who were on the bench today were keen to make an impact on the match, and that’s very important.”
He also had positive words for the return of Martim Marques, who came on in the second half after a long spell on the sidelines: “I’ve never had any doubts about him. Unfortunately, the injury was serious, but he’s a player with extraordinary pace. Having Martim back is important for us, and he’ll certainly be a huge help in the second leg as well.”
ALREADY THINKING ABOUT BATUMI
At the end of the match, Croci-Torti was already looking at the areas that need work ahead of the return leg: “We need to recover our energy properly and organise ourselves well for the match, work out where we can cause the most damage in the second leg and where we need to be better defensively. We’re taking home a positive result that leaves us with two possible outcomes: we’re heading to Batumi with great confidence.”
Before the return leg, the manager finally spared a thought for the 3,435 spectators present at the AIL Arena: “I’d like to thank everyone for making their presence felt and ensuring that our home advantage counted for something.”
With the league fixture against St. Gallen postponed, FC Lugano’s next fixture will therefore be the second leg of the UEFA Conference League play-off, scheduled for next Thursday in Batumi.