Lecce, Sticchi Damiani's dedication to Corvino for his 300th match in yellow and red.

The "coup" pulled off in Florence is worth its weight in gold. President Saverio Sticchi Damiani dedicated the victory against Fiorentina to technical director Pantaleo Corvino. "For his 300th Serie A appearance with Lecce, a milestone reached during the home game against Napoli," concluded the Salento club's top official. His thoughts then turned to the fans: "Thanks to those who followed us to the Franchi and to those who, before our departure, came to give the lads a boost at the Martignano training center during the final training session."

He then delves into the result: "The three points earned in the match against Fiorentina are precious, especially because they came at the end of a very difficult match from an environmental perspective, in a match that this week had been labeled a "do or die" affair by our opponents, who desperately needed the win. Well, our players faced Fiorentina with character, a great desire to get a result, and a great deal of dedication. They all deserve applause. They put in a great performance."

The Lecce side we admired at the Franchi was a mature one, one that knew how to endure early on, when Fiorentina rushed forward, intent on immediately turning the game their way, but without success. They then "bitten" their rivals when it became clear they were losing their confidence and starting to feel the heat under their feet. Finally, they remained calm in the closing stages of the match, when Fiorentina attempted to turn the game into a brawl.

"The team was able to adapt to the various phases of the match in the right way," emphasized Sticchi Damiani. "It confirms that our team has found its "square," the framework within which to perform at its best. The turning point came in the draw at the "Via del Mare" against Bologna. After that, all our performances were very solid. The only lapse in form occurred in the first half in Udine. Otherwise, we were up to the task, even when the result wasn't our cup of tea."

The win in Tuscany carries enormous weight, especially since, psychologically, the lack of points in the last two rounds, despite strong performances, could have weighed heavily: "Playing three matches in eight days is always tough and requires a significant expenditure of energy, both physically and mentally. The win in Florence is also important for this reason."

The tenth round's results, with the struggling teams capable of moving up the standings or holding their own against more highly-rated teams, confirms that the battle at the bottom will be extremely difficult: "I've been stressing this would be the case since the eve of the tournament. The level of competition has risen among those jostling for survival. Now we'll enjoy a few hours of rest and then we'll get back to work preparing for the home match against Verona, scheduled for Saturday."