Carlo Sanchez: "These are the first real tests to understand where we stand. We'll be ready for the Sibilla."

After three weeks of intense preparation and a brief break over the August bank holiday, Real Forio returned to the San Leonardo stadium in Panza. Carlo Sanchez's team, with a solid core and several quality additions, is preparing for two key friendlies: the first against Equipe Campania, and the second on Saturday in Torre Annunziata against historic Serie D side Savoia.

Two different testing grounds, but both important for assessing the team's fitness, tactical identity, and cohesion. On the eve of the matches, we interviewed Coach Sanchez to take stock of the training camp and the season's prospects.

Mister, after the mid-August break, Real Forio resumes training with a series of friendlies. What kind of response do you expect from the match against Equipe Campania? "I'm especially looking forward to our first real approaches against an opponent. There's always great respect when training with teammates, no one gets into tough tackles, and it's normal for some situations to go unnoticed. With an external team, however, you start to really test yourself. After twenty days of intense work, the group's response has been excellent: we've trained consistently, without any lapses, and no one has struggled during the preparation. The only player missing is Luigi Castagna, who is recovering. Tomorrow I want to see how well the teams understand each other and how they apply the lessons learned in training. Equipe Campania is a group of players still looking for a team, but they remain a team made up of capable players: for us, it's an opportunity to grow and test ourselves."

Real Forio has retained a solid core, but has brought in several new players, some of whom are from the island. How do you rate the impact of the new players and the atmosphere at the training camp? "The training camp went very well, thanks in part to the close-knit core of the core group, which made it easy for the new players to settle in. Many of the players weren't completely unknown; they already have experience in the division and know several of their teammates. We've added valuable players like Mattera, Florio, and Simone Di Meglio, players from the island, who have made their integration even easier. My feelings are positive: the group is working with commitment and dedication, and this is the first step towards building a strong season. In the friendlies, I expect to see on the pitch what we've been preparing for weeks: consistency, dedication, and team spirit."

On Saturday, you'll face Savoia, a Serie D team with big ambitions. What kind of test do you expect from that match? "It will be a very tough test. Savoia is a team built to play at the top of the Serie D championship. They've been in training camp since July 21st and are working on established strategies. For us, it will be a different match than against Equipe Campania: tougher, more challenging, but also more exciting. We'll be playing at a historic stadium that has finally reopened, and that will add even more excitement to the match. It will be a match that will help us understand our current level and draw useful insights ahead of our official Coppa Italia debut on August 27th against Sibilla Bacoli."

He's always emphasized the overall value of the squad and the "everyone in the starting eleven." This year is a little different. "No, it's not. Every coach has his own key points, but I truly believe I have 27-28 players at my disposal who can start or come on during a match and offer the same contribution. This is crucial because championships are long, and we have a dual objective: to do well in the Cup and the league. The club has made significant sacrifices to give us a deep, quality squad. This means there will be healthy internal competition, but also that we will always have valid alternatives. The more the group enjoys itself, the more I enjoy it, and the more the fans enjoy it: this is the spirit we want to continue."

Tactically, Real Forio appears to have several options. Have you already decided which formation to focus on? "I don't like to talk too much about numbers, because they often reduce football to rigid formations. The truth is that this squad allows me to work on multiple solutions, even with a three-man defense. We start with a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, but what matters is the interpretation and the ability to adapt to the opponent. We must be good at reading situations, exploiting the weaknesses of others, and enhancing our own qualities. It's clear that we're only at the beginning: twenty days of work aren't enough to have definitive certainties; the first concrete answers will come with the official matches."

Of the two friendlies, can the one against Savoia be considered the true pre-Coppa Italia test? "Yes, I'd say so. Tomorrow we'll face a group of players who are training to stay in shape while waiting for call-ups, so they're not a team with their routines already worked out. On Saturday, however, we'll face a Serie D club equipped to win, with a thorough preparation behind them.

It will be a truly tough match that will test us both physically and tactically. We're not just looking at the result, but rather leaving the pitch with clear instructions. Our true objective remains our Coppa Italia debut on August 27th in Bacoli: we'll have to be ready there, both physically and mentally.