Collecchio, October 3, 2025 – Head Coach Carlos Cuesta spoke at the press conference ahead of matchday six of Serie A against Lecce, in the press room at the Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio.

CONSISTENCY AND THE POWER OF THE TARDINI

“We want to continue as we have been playing this last week and capitalise on this big game at home to get the results we want. We especially want to keep going on this journey with our fans who are able to give us a boost, that push, which helps us so much. It’s an opportunity to have a really great evening of football together. I’m hoping that the fans at the Tardini will play with us, doing exactly what they did when we played Torino. We are trying to improve our performance every day, and they can really help us. This is a welcome that means so much to us. We need to give them a reason to be proud of us and to feel that we represent them. We want to play with that hunger, passion and desire to put on a great show.”

LECCE, CLEAR IDEAS

“Lecce are a side that knows how to build from the back, with short passes, but they also know how to play long and then counter-press. They are good at winning balls on the rebound, defending high and dropping their full-backs to maintain a balance in the back line. They are a team with clear ideas and a coach with a strong identity. Our aim is to take the game where we want and be ready for any situation. We want to maintain continuity in what we’re building. Beyond the formation, we are a team that is shaped according to the players we choose, with certain characteristics on the pitch. We’ll always try to make the most of the opportunities we get – tomorrow won’t be any different.”

CUTRONE’S IMPACT

“Patrick contributes to every part of the game. He was able to make an impact on the team with a goal, created plenty of chances and helped set up chances for his teammates too. He has the ability to receive the ball… and link up play, while also defending incredibly. He’s adding tremendous value to the team, which I expected, and I know he’ll continue to contribute every day. Sometimes he plays higher up, other times deeper – it depends on the formation we choose. But ultimately our goal is to always be an adaptable team and play our game to the maximum.”



PLENTY OF CHANCES

“Set pieces? We train for every scenario – high pressing, low blocks, building from the back, and the final pass. And set pieces are part of that work too. We’ve created many dangerous opportunities in different ways. On the counterattack or after winning the ball high up, as we did against Torino and Cagliari, or on longer transitions, like against Juventus. We’ve also had situations where we were able to play from the back as we did against Cagliari. Overall, we’ve been capable of creating chances in lots of different ways.”

FROM SØRENSEN TO ORISTANIO, THE EFFORT IN MIDFIELD

“Oliver is able to make great forward runs with the ball, even when he receives it deeper. He knows how to help the team press high and contributes a lot on the right and the left. But we need to consider the context. He’s from another country, a different league, from an environment where adapting to Serie A isn’t easy. He made an immediate impact, helping the team, like against Juventus, where he started and in the matches that followed. That can’t have been easy. He will continue every day, and we’ll see the best version of him because I dot doubt his commitment or ability. Oristanio? He’s at a stage where we evaluate his condition on a daily basis. We will see if he’s available for tomorrow.'

TRUE GIALLOBLU STAFF

“The contribution of Paletta and Pavarini, former gialloblu players? They give us a lot because their experience helps up to be adaptable. Beyond their experience, it’s their expertise that lets them specialise in different roles and give us the opportunity to improve the team and the staff body. Having a cohesive group of staff with a very clear approach is fundamental. Here, we have the opportunity to achieve that, so I feel privileged to work with such talented people.”

THE WILL TO PUT ON A GREAT PERFORMANCE

“How is the team after only having a short week to prepare? The team is fired up and ready to put on a great performance to achieve the result we want. Often you learn, or you think you know, what people are like after a defeat, but I disagree. I think context matters. We’ve experienced defeats, draws, and victories, but I see continuity in our mentality. I see the desire to do well, in training where we always approach things with the same will and determination. That gives me confidence that this is the right mindset to keep growing together. Playing every three days? I see it as a huge opportunity. It’s a chance to repeat what we did against Torino. We came from a three-game cycle and now it happens again. It’s a great opportunity for those who can adapt. After the next break, we might play in Rome with fewer days to prepare. The international break? I can’t choose when it happens, but we make the most of the circumstances, and that’s fine.”