As Serie A returns from the international break, Torino prepares to host Lecce in their fourth match of the season. On the eve of this clash, Torino’s head coach Paolo Vanoli addressed the media in a pre-match press conference.
Vanoli began by acknowledging the challenges of returning from international duty: “The most delicate match is when you return from internationals. I’ve discussed this with the players; these are the most decisive games. We’ve worked really well with those who stayed, following the program we set for ourselves.”
The coach’s excellent start to the season earned him the League’s Manager of the Month award, which he humbly shared with his team: “It’s a great satisfaction. It’s not just Paolo Vanoli, but it should be shared with the club, the staff, those who work behind the scenes, and the players. And then there’s the welcome from the fans… I told the boys: I don’t like individual awards, I prefer collective ones.”
Commenting on Ricci’s progress, Vanoli stated: “Young players need to grow. He’s done well to continue his journey: the National team is an important experience, he was in the first part of preparation for the European Championship, and this is a reward for him. He must have increasingly higher goals with Torino.”
Reflecting on the team’s attitude in the early fixtures, Vanoli emphasized the need for continuous improvement: “We are in a growth phase and we need to improve. In Venice, I expected more in terms of play. And we need to grow on this, which comes through daily work and attention to details. Mentality can’t be achieved in two or three months, I’ve always talked about how to reach results, and sometimes it’s not about beautiful play, but the club’s values.”
With a sold-out stadium expected for the Lecce match, Vanoli expressed his expectations: “I expect the boys to enjoy the moment. My task was to unite, and having a stadium that pushes you should be exploited. Since I arrived, I always look ahead and I ask the same of my players. The transfer market is annoying because sometimes it can destabilize. But I don’t want excuses and I don’t give them, we must always show that we can grow. I liked that these guys are trying to do something important, but I have to look beyond: I can’t stop.”
On their upcoming opponents, Vanoli cautioned: “Lecce is a tricky team, the director often finds good players and the coach has a game idea. They won a match while outnumbered, which shows how dangerous they can be. They had five or six players in national teams, we had a few more. We have the fortune of playing in our stadium and the people will push us, we need to improve our performance.”
