Sanchez: "Real Forio is a team of real men. I make corrections in victories, not in defeats."

Real Forio is leading the league with the ease of those who have built a strong identity day after day. Ten rounds, eight wins and two draws, a top attack, and a solidity that doesn't falter even when down to ten men.

Carlo Sanchez reads the moment with the coolness of a coach and the pride of a foreman: the secret is to work within the victories, honing the details when the ball is in and his head is clear. No triumphalism, just discipline and consistency. The group is the signature: people before players, willingness to sacrifice, changes that raise, not lower, the level. Florio and Santiago make noise, but it's the orchestra that keeps time.

The standings, he says, can be misleading. It's better to focus on the week leading up to Quarto, an opponent with ideas and pace. In the background, a mature signal for the island: mutual respect and a shared vision with Ischia. Because united football here is worth more than any slogan.

Mister, let's start from the beginning: how do you explain Real Forio's start to the season, with eight wins and two draws in ten games, the best attack in the league, and a team that seems to play with both ease and maturity? It comes down to hard work, serenity, and the self-awareness of those who know what they're doing. I believe our secret is this: the ability to achieve what the boys are doing today, a top-level championship. I say it often, but I'll repeat it: I criticize in victories, not in defeats. Because it's in victory that you understand where to improve. In defeat, it's too easy to spot mistakes. The group experiences daily calm in training; they're calm, they have fun, and they train hard. It's a group that makes enormous sacrifices and has the humility to not get carried away. They're aware of their own qualities, but they always maintain the hunger needed to be protagonists. And they don't view victory as an obsession; they experience it as a natural progression. Many of them are used to winning; they've already experienced important moments, and this is a huge advantage for me. They give me the opportunity to work with a group that is self-aware and mature.

Five points ahead of second place after ten matchdays: Real Forio leads Group A and shows no signs of slowing down. Can we say this is the result of the normality of your daily work? "Yes, I really think so. We're doing something beautiful, extraordinary, but at the same time necessary. We've said it since day one: those who follow us daily know we're not hiding. The club has made significant sacrifices, President Nicola Amato more than anyone, and deserves everything that's coming. Our fans adore us, support us, and are behind us with enthusiasm.

There's nothing more beautiful than, in the ninety-fifth minute, seeing the people's joy, hugging them, sharing their happiness. It's in those moments that you understand that every effort makes sense. The club, the people, the lads: everyone deserves the best. We just have to keep going like this, without thinking about the standings. We have to think week by week, focus on every training session, every match. The standings can be misleading, we just have to stay calm and work."

At the start of the season, you said, "We should have started stronger." Now that you're first, with a solid, universally recognized team, what's the new motto? "Perhaps the most appropriate phrase today is, 'The job isn't done.'" It's true, our press officer, Alessandro Mollo, often uses strong expressions, but he's right. We're only at matchday ten. It's too early to draw conclusions. Today, our performances and results are favorable, but in football, everything changes in an instant. We just need to stay focused, train hard, and maintain consistency. There will be pitfalls, many of them. The next match is already a tough test, and every match will be. In football, there are no easy matches; every Sunday is a battle. It's sport; there's a winner and a loser, but the important thing is to never stop having fun."

After ten games, what do you really like about this team? Is there one aspect that makes you prouder than others? "That I've found and built, together with the club, a group of real men. This is more important to me than anything else. Having technical qualities is important, but finding players with this willingness, this loyalty, and this willingness to sacrifice themselves is rare. Every time I make a substitution, whoever comes in contributes, and whoever goes out becomes their teammates' biggest fans. That's the spirit I like."

In the match against Frattese, after Mattera's red card, the team continued to dominate. It seemed like a game of maturity. "Exactly. After the intense match against Portici, there was a risk of a mental decline. It's not easy to reset in just a few days. But after a somewhat lackluster start, we regained control of the game even when we were down to ten men. It was a victory that required sacrifice. Gigi Castagna did a tremendous defensive job, as did Peluso, despite not having played in a while. The substitutions helped me because I'm fortunate to have a bench that never lets up. Antonio Di Costanzo, for example, is a player who deserves to start anywhere; he's one of my captains, and he's been with me for two years. Bringing in Antonio and not losing anything is a luxury. And then there's the staff: from the assistants to the physiotherapists, from the managers to the warehousemen. We're a unified unit."

Speaking of quality: Florio and Santiago have become a nightmare for defenses. What do they mean to you? "Florio is a true professional, a guy who has played on important fields and has a superior mentality. He's a player who has little to do with the Eccellenza, and I say this without offending the category. He has experience, intelligence, and charisma. Santiago, on the other hand, was an unknown name to many, but we knew who we were signing. He's hungry, talented, and eager to grow. Together, they make a devastating duo, but I don't like to talk about individuals because everyone here is a key player. I've coached many teams, but I've rarely found men like him—honest, united, respectful."

And yet, let's talk about individuals. Tarascio and Serrano have found the back of the net and seem to be improving greatly. "Tarascio has the bonus of a goal a year, as I often joke with him. I hope he breaks tradition this year. Last year he scored on matchday one, and this time I want to see him do it more often. Emanuele Serrano, on the other hand, is going through a positive period; a goal was in the air. He's the striker who's played the most under me, the one who's played the most minutes, and that's no coincidence. He's a tireless worker, has extremely high technical qualities, and perhaps even he hasn't yet understood how far he can go. He's an extraordinary guy, and he'll continue to do well under me."

Now you're facing the away game against Quarto, after a busy week. What kind of match do you expect? "A tough match. Quarto is a team that plays well, with a brilliant coach, one of the best in the league. He was a great striker, he knows football and has clear ideas. Not many coaches in the Eccellenza league have such a clear vision of the game. They run a lot, they're young and enthusiastic. They play with ease and serenity, and that makes them dangerous. We'll have to face them with humility and awareness, respecting their strength but remembering who we are."

Is there anything worrying you about the match? “I wouldn't call it worry, but respect. That's a different word. I have a lot of respect for Quarto, because they're an organized team with quality. But I have no fears.”

The responsibility of the top spot, the five-point lead, the pressure of those chasing. Do you feel all this? “I don't. We work calmly. Every day we leave the pitch knowing we've given it our all. We have no regrets, we never have any doubts about whether we could have done more. I'm just proud of what we're building. I don't look at the standings; it's too early. I prefer to stay calm, keep my feet on the ground, and convey calm to the team. But I know we have a very strong group. I said it in August and I'll say it again: we won't do well, but we'll do very well.”

A positive sign for island football is the collaboration between Ischia and Forio: you often see them in each other's stands. "It's true, and it's a wonderful thing. Simone Corino came to watch one of our games, and I try to do the same when I can. I believe that on the island, football can only be played at a high level if we stick together. We must stop viewing each other with suspicion or envy. The island is one, and we must move forward together. Ischia has gone through difficult times, but is now regaining serenity and confidence. Simone has had the courage to lead a young team and is doing so with skill. Having Ischia in Serie D and Forio competing at the top of the Eccellenza would be a source of pride for the entire island."

A year ago, he defended the island's honor against the gossip of Group A. Today, Real Forio is respected everywhere. "Yes, we are now a club respected throughout Campania. We are no longer 'the new kid on the block'; we are a solid reality. President Amato has built a model of integrity and professionalism that everyone recognizes. He has become a benchmark for balance and competence. Many should take a leaf out of his book. Real Forio is now a highly respected club, and this is the greatest achievement of all."