Lecce focuses on the flanks: Di Francesco browses the squad

Eusebio Di Francesco reviews the list of attacking options. The focus is particularly on the flanks, a key role in the 4-3-3 formation designed by the Abruzzo-born coach. In their first competitive Coppa Italia outing, the starting lineup was Lameck Banda on the left and Santiago Pierotti on the right. This pairing provides flair and physicality, but they won't be back in the league opener scheduled for Saturday away to Genoa. Lecce will inevitably be without Pierotti, who will serve the suspension for a sending-off he received on the final day of last season, in the historic away win against Lazio, which secured the Salento team's third consecutive relegation. This is a significant absence, as Pierotti has proven to be one of the most in-form players throughout the preseason. Roma have also inquired about the Argentine winger, but have encountered resistance from the Salento club, which has no intention of parting ways with the winger who arrived in January 2024. In the right-backing game, the alternative to Pierotti is Konan N'Dri. The Ivorian, who arrived last January, is thus a candidate for a starting spot in Genoa. Last season, he made 11 appearances, mostly as a substitute. This season, he intends to further establish himself in the pecking order and carve out a more prominent role. On the left, however, there are three names vying for a spot. Banda is coming off a disappointing performance in the Coppa Italia against Juve Stabia. After a strong first half, the Zambian's performance was marred by a very naive red card at the end of the first half. This incident irreparably affected the match and forced Lecce into a very difficult second half. It remains to be seen whether Di Francesco will continue to trust him on the left flank, but in any case, there are plenty of alternatives. Tete Morente, in particular, is a candidate for a starting spot, having performed well as a substitute in the Coppa Italia match. The Spaniard is an experienced player, capable of providing substance in both phases of play, capable of being a powerful attacker while also being a key contributor when out of possession. He thus appears to be the favorite to start in the league match, despite the transfer rumors surrounding him. Morente, in fact, was in the sights of several La Liga clubs as early as January, and there has been no shortage of interest in the past few weeks. But as the days pass, Lecce's intention is to maintain the current squad structure, also given the difficulty of finding a replacement with time running out and the summer transfer window closing in. Finally, the latest arrival, Riccardo Sottil, is also a candidate for the Genoa squad. Lecce had been keen since the start of the transfer window to strengthen their wingers with another winger for Di Francesco, and Sottil's name was at the top of the list. The technical department, led by manager Pantaleo Corvino and sporting director Stefano Trinchera, has been working tirelessly in recent weeks to sign the former Fiorentina player. The 1999-born player ultimately arrived in Salento on a onerous loan deal (for approximately €500,000). Sottil is more motivated than ever to make amends for a rather inconsistent last season between Fiorentina and Milan, and Salento could provide him with the ideal conditions to truly shine. He also enjoys the respect of coach Di Francesco, who previously coached him at Cagliari and identified him as the ideal fit for his 4-3-3 formation. On the eve of the Coppa Italia match against Juve Stabia, the Giallorossi coach himself made it clear that he wasn't immediately available for starting duty, having only recently joined the club and having trained infrequently with the team. However, his condition has certainly improved in recent days, and ahead of the match against Genoa, his possible inclusion cannot be ruled out, if not from the start, then certainly during the match. The week leading up to the league debut begins this morning with the resumption of training. These will be crucial days, during which Di Francesco will evaluate the team's form to make his selections for the starting eleven. Regardless of who starts, those who come on as substitutes will also be called upon to make a crucial contribution as they strive for a positive result in the Serie A season opener.