The 4–1 win over St. Gallen in the rescheduled Matchday 4 fixture of the Brack Super League leaves Mattia Croci-Torti feeling particularly satisfied with the approach shown by FC Lugano. Following the draw against Young Boys, the bianconeri responded with a first half of great intensity and consolidated their lead at the top of the table.
THE PERFORMANCE
At the press conference, the manager began by highlighting the attitude with which the team took to the pitch and dictated the game: “After Saturday’s draw, the team showed they weren’t running on empty, but that they absolutely wanted this win. From the very first minute, we showed great conviction. Against a team like St. Gallen, you have to be more determined in one-on-one duels, because that’s what they thrive on. We’ve secured a victory that’s the result of great conviction.”
Croci-Torti also highlighted his players’ ability to switch between different approaches in building up play: “We need to strike a balance between long, deep passes and shorter ones. The lads read the game well, and today even the goalkeeper was decisive in the initial build-up, showing courage and a desire to play.”
BECKHAM CASTRO AND THE YOUNG PLAYERS
Among the standout performers of the evening was Beckham Castro, who started the match and scored the opening goal. For Croci-Torti, this decision stemmed from the Colombian’s progress over recent weeks: “For me, it wasn’t a gamble, but a natural choice. When he arrived, he hadn’t played a full 90 minutes in the league since February and needed to improve, particularly in terms of fitness and match sharpness. Every time he came on, he showed positive signs, and today he made the most of his opportunity, demonstrating what we’d seen when we signed him from Colombia.”
The discussion then turned to the many young players included in the squad. Pihlström scored a brace in the first half, but early in the second half he left the team down to ten men: “He had a first half, individually speaking, that I hadn’t seen in a long time at Lugano, then he made a silly mistake that he shouldn’t have made. He needs to find that balance, and we must realise that we’re talking about young lads: they give us so much, but we also have to accept that they might make mistakes.”
Croci-Torti then emphasised the importance of the environment into which the new arrivals are integrated: “Everyone has their own journey. What matters is joining a squad where there’s continuity and where everyone knows what they have to do. I’m really pleased to have lads who are keen to help this team, and I see a squad where everyone believes in it.”
CONFIDENCE IN THE WHOLE SQUAD
With a fixture list set to become increasingly packed with league, Swiss Cup and European fixtures, the manager reiterates the need to involve more players: “The key is to give confidence to as many lads as possible. We’ll have some tough weeks ahead, with matches on Thursday evenings, returning from away trips on Fridays and new fixtures on Saturdays. We need as many players as possible to feel part of our project and to feel that they’re important.”
The win over St. Gallen also takes Lugano to their 17th consecutive positive result, a statistic that Croci-Torti welcomes without losing sight of the long road ahead: “I’m pleased to have reached this milestone. The credit goes to the lads, who believe in what they’re doing and don’t let up even in difficult moments. But it’s still only September: we must keep our feet on the ground and continue to make our mark on this league.”
Their lead at the top is growing, but their focus is already on the next fixture: on Sunday, Lugano will be in action in Lausanne, aiming to build on the momentum they’ve built up.
WATCH Croci-Torti’s PRESS CONFERENCE: