The wait is over. On Sunday 2 August, FC Lugano U-21 will kick off their season in the Hoval Promotion League by hosting FC Bulle at the Al Maglio sports centre. After nearly a month of pre-season training, manager Andrea Vitali is looking forward to the opening match with confidence, aware of the challenges facing a significantly revamped squad: “As always, there’s great enthusiasm at the start of every season,” explains the bianconeri manager. “I’ve found the lads are raring to work hard and learn as much as possible, and that’s certainly an excellent starting point.”
During pre-season, FC Lugano U-21 played friendlies against Collina d’Oro, YF Juventus and Mendrisio – useful tests to assess the team’s progress. “They were challenging matches, but we know there’s still a lot of work to be done. The important thing is that the squad stays united and continues to strive to improve day by day,” emphasises Vitali.
A YOUNGER SQUAD, A NEW CHALLENGE
Compared to last season, the squad has changed significantly, with the inclusion of numerous under-age players as part of the Bianconeri Academy’s development programme: “The club has chosen to bring in a lot of young players, and this represents a wonderful challenge both for us on the coaching staff and for the lads. Our task will be to guide them on their journey of development and try to help them improve as much as possible. Then it will be up to the pitch to tell us how long it will take.”
AL MAGLIO: A NEW HOME FOR THE U-21S
Among the new developments this season is the completion of work on the Al Maglio sports centre, which is set to become the home of the U-21 team: “We’re feeling very positive. We finally have a pitch all to ourselves and a gym entirely at our disposal. It’s a huge step forward and we’re really happy to be able to train every day at a facility like this.”
THE FIRST OPPONENT
The opening match against FC Bulle will immediately serve as an important test in a league that continues to rise in standard: “Bulle are a tough opponent,” said Vitali, “but I prefer to focus above all on what we need to do. I expect a serious, compact and determined team, capable of not letting individual moments in the match affect them.”
For Vitali, the Hoval Promotion League continues to be the ideal environment for young players’ development: “The standard of the league and the constant competition against senior players make this division extremely formative. It’s the competition in Switzerland that comes closest to the professional football of the Challenge League, and that’s precisely what makes the difference.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA VITALI BELOW: