Corvino: «Lecce the healthiest club in Italy. Let's feed the dream»

LECCE Few clues about the future, great satisfaction and pride in having achieved the historic result of the third consecutive salvation in the top division, in compliance with the company policy that provides for a healthy balance sheet and a sustainable partnership. This is how Pantaleo Corvino, head of the technical area of ​​Lecce, photographs the 2024/2025 season that has been archived and introduces the new one.

"We have been indicated by Cies as the healthiest club in Italy and in ninth place in Europe - underlines the manager from Vernole -. This fact makes the sporting result we have achieved even more precious, as we have obtained it by focusing with conviction on capitalization. We have worked on the senior team, but also on the Primavera and on the youth sector in a broader sense, which is growing and is starting to bear the fruits for which we have sown. In this sense I thank the parents of the boys, who have placed their trust in us".

Then, knowing that the hottest topic at this stage is the one related to the technical guidance, he says: «We are not robots. Both Giampaolo and we took some time to focus on the various aspects to keep in mind for a calm examination. In three or four days there will be a meeting with the coach to evaluate whether the conditions exist to continue the journey together. We were brave when we chose him when it was time to change the team's guidance and to always defend him, even after the home defeat suffered against Como, when everyone thought he would be relieved of his duties. He contributed to achieving a great result. When a coach takes over during the race, however, on both sides, there is no opportunity to delve into the principles related to the technical-tactical line of a club, but also to what is the coach's way of understanding football. This is the step that needs to be made in view of the new competitive season».

Regarding the principles that inspire Lecce's management for the team's play, Corvino explains that «there must be dynamism and intensity, the fan must not get bored with too many passes, vertical maneuvers must be favored».

These concepts seem to confirm that there is a certain distance from the philosophy expressed by Giampaolo for a portion of the tournament, given the fact that he has often spoken of the importance of making an extra pass to fill the area. Whether this is really the case or not, however, we will have to wait a few more days to see if the coach from Abruzzo will still be leading the Giallorossi complex in 2025/2026 and, if he is not, who will take his place.

As President Saverio Sticchi Damiani has already done in recent days, Corvino points out that reaching certain goals is not at all a given: «When a new Serie A tournament begins, we must start from the assumption that we are last. Because every time, in trying to reach our goals, we are like David facing Goliath because we can invest resources that are not comparable to those available to others. In short, we are living a beautiful fairy tale. Never, in 117 years of history, has Lecce played in the top series for four consecutive competitive years, while we will do so in 2025/2026. Let it be clear, however, that even in the face of positive results we do not stop questioning ourselves to try to understand how it is possible to improve something, because only with this attitude can we feed our dream».

He then added: «It was a very tough season, in which we also went through mourning. The loss of Graziano (Fiorita, ed.) was shocking, traumatic for his family, but also for each of us. It left its mark. On a personal level, it was like reliving what had already happened with the loss of Astori, albeit in a different context (on March 4, 2018, as head of the technical area of ​​Fiorentina, ed.). We had a strong team. In all respects. If it hadn't been like that, in relation to the competitiveness of the championship, we wouldn't have obtained permanence. It's a shame that some players were targeted for trivialities. To give their best, the boys need to be supported especially when things aren't going well».

Corvino reiterates the difficulties the Salento club is dealing with in the top division: «Usually the newly promoted teams are indicated among those at risk of relegation, but last summer the newcomers were Como and Parma, who invested a lot, and Venezia who still spent little more than half of what the Lariani and Ducali did. This makes us understand who we have to deal with».

The technical area manager highlights the numbers of the five seasons of Corvino-bis: «The first year we lost the semifinal of the playoffs of B, after being in the lead until a few rounds from the end of the regular season. The second year we won the championship, celebrating promotion. In the following three we achieved salvation in the top division three times. It certainly cannot be said that results were lacking».

At the height of the crisis of the past season, a banner was displayed at the «Via del Mare» with the words «Corvino vattene»: «When you have responsibilities, criticism must be expected. I accept it and consider it an incentive to do better. Speaking of banners, at home I have a picture with a giant poster of the “Nord” in which one stands out that says “Corvino vinci”. Well, it is what inspires me every day when I work for Lecce, for the territory I love, for my people».

On the market, he says: "We are healthy, so we don't need to sell. There are players who, due to long service or other reasons, have asked to leave to try something new. Under our conditions, we will respect this wish, keeping in mind that sales are useful to the budget and that Lecce needs players who are strongly motivated for the cause."

Sports director Stefano Trinchera comments: "It was a very complicated year, full of episodes that made our path more difficult. But we concluded it by achieving a great feat, of which we must all be very proud and from which we will have to start again with the utmost unity in view of the new season, which promises to be very difficult".

From Empoli, midfielder Youssef Maleh will return to Lecce at the end of his loan. In addition, attacking midfielder Filip Marchwinski, one of the most anticipated players of the past season, will be available again after the serious injury that sidelined him in the second half of the championship, but who was used for very few minutes. "In Tuscany - underlines Trinchera - Maleh was used consistently. We will make our assessments about his future, in agreement with the coach. As for Marchwinski, he is recovering but, until he has finished his course, any discussion is to be considered premature. Also as regards the Pole, the choices will have to be made with the coach".