As the Serie A season kicks off, Lecce’s manager Luca Gotti reflects on his team’s preseason and looks ahead to their opening match against Atalanta. Gotti, who took over mid-season last year, discusses his philosophy and the challenges ahead.
On his team’s approach, Gotti stated, “We’ve seen a rather courageous Lecce throughout this long preseason, sometimes too much so, and punished for excessive courage and aggressiveness. We’ve been disorderly in our positioning in some matches. My idea is to maintain the positive characteristics of courage and mental freedom to do something more, while trying to provide greater balance and security.”
Addressing defensive concerns, Gotti mentions the need for adaptability: “It depends on the type of game, whether there’s a need for positional reference, if we’re defending deep or if there are one-on-ones in wide spaces. Players have different characteristics, and we need adaptability in the creative spirit.”
Regarding in-game adjustments, Gotti emphasizes the importance of the five-substitute rule: “The five changes will have a big influence. There are doubts. Even if you have more or less in mind the 18 players who could be useful, the doubt that remains is trying to read it in advance. How to start, how to change, and predict the directions of the match.”
On facing Atalanta, Gotti notes, “It wouldn’t seem like a great idea to seek duels with Atalanta; they make this their peculiarity with a very precise philosophy that has given them satisfaction.”
Discussing individual players, Gotti speaks about newcomers like Coulibaly and Pierotti: “Coulibaly during the game or from the start is one of the thoughts. The boy has the qualities to help us, but I don’t know well the minutes and fatally I haven’t understood yet how I could use him best.”
On Pierotti, he adds, “He has energy and generosity, but he hasn’t yet fully understood his own means and his contribution to give in various moments of the match. He always gives everything.”
Regarding the fight for survival in Serie A, Gotti concludes, “On paper, given the teams that have come up from Serie B, it seems that survival is decidedly more complicated for Lecce. Let’s hope that the field tells us much more beautiful things.”
