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Torino coach, Paolo Vanoli, addressed a press conference to preview the match against Venezia, scheduled for Friday at 8:45 PM.

Here is an excerpt from the words of the Torino coach on the eve of the clash against Venezia, which will kick off the 35th round of Serie A on Friday night.

Torino, Vanoli’s words

How are you preparing for the match with Venezia? Does it also have a special meaning for you?

“The real emotion was in the first leg, which came almost immediately after what we had experienced together. Now a whole round has passed, and everyone has their own objectives. Venezia has revived, they are in a tough fight for survival, and we must keep that in mind. They play good football, I compliment the coach: he has proven himself wherever he has been. They are very dangerous on set pieces, they score a lot from there. We need to be focused, alert, and we absolutely want these three points.”

What has been the journey for Torino from the first leg until now?

“We started off on the right foot, then we changed our skin and entered a phase of evolution. We have improved a lot, even though in the recent period, absences have not allowed us to maintain continuity.”

What approach will be needed on Friday?

“It must be a strong approach. We are working a lot on mentality, without looking at what others are doing. We need to understand what the opponents want, what they are looking for: not all games are approached the same way. Venezia and Lecce will fight it out, to the end, and we must show that we have our identity. We have already done it, then the results also depend on how the game is interpreted.”

Torino is always “more or less” tenth, how does that make you feel?

“It bothers me to hear about being ‘more or less tenth’, about holidays… It’s nice to play matches with real motivations. If in the future we find ourselves fighting for something concrete, these matches will become decisive.”

Is the team ready to receive this message?

“It must be. And we must give our best until the last day. If the goal has become this, we must achieve it. It’s a matter of mentality, and this end of the season is a valuable training in this regard. We want to grow in this aspect.”

How are the injured players?

“Ricci will not be there, he still has discomfort from tendinopathy. Lazaro is suspended, but Gineitis is back. Ilic is fine, as are the others.”

In Naples, you chose a back three. Will you confirm it against Venezia?

“I hope the reason was understood: unfortunately, we had several absences. Lazaro was not available, Gineitis replaced him well but then he was suspended… We had no alternatives on the right flank. Fortunately, we had worked on that system and were able to adopt it. In the second half, with the late returns of Lazaro and Vlasic, we had more options. For Venezia, we will evaluate: Gineitis is available now, we will see what the best solution will be.”

Upon arriving in Turin, you went to Superga: does May 4th provide an extra stimulus?

“The history of this club should be a daily motivation, not just on May 4th. I try every day, even during the week, to make the players understand what jersey we wear. It would be a big mistake to dwell only on that date… May 4th is special, going to Superga is more of a duty than a right. We must honor an irreplaceable team, perhaps unique, for what it represented: ten out of eleven in the National team… And then we must remember all the people who lost their lives in that tragic accident. It is a duty to do it always, in good times and bad: sometimes we do it well, other times less.”

Buffon said that one day he will see you on an even bigger bench. How does that make you feel?

“I thank Buffon, even though I did not directly read his words. I must thank him: I had the fortune to play with one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At my first training session, they asked me who impressed me the most, and I immediately replied ‘Buffon’. He is a great man, and he can also transmit important values in the National team. As for my future, I am not used to looking too far ahead. I focus on the present and work hard. If today I have the fortune to coach this great team, it is thanks to what I have done so far. The future always depends on what is built day by day.”

Have you seen the videos of the May 4th celebrations from past years?

“Yes, thanks also to our press officer, who tells me anecdotes every day and teaches me something. It is one of the most beautiful things, and I am proud of it. There are stories that give you chills. I try to transmit all of this to the players: I also did it with a quote from Pulici. It is not true that we do not respect this history on the field: we always give our best, but sometimes things don’t work out. I know which path I must follow, and I continue to walk it.”

NIKOLA VLASIC REGRETFUL ( PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI )

How is Vlasic doing?

“He was returning from a calf discomfort, a hematoma that was bothering him. Now it’s just a matter of managing it, but he has the 90 minutes in his legs. It’s a different story for Lazaro, who had been out for longer and required a different management.”