Lecce, Krstovic anxious. Sebastiano Siviglia: he knows how to be decisive

LECCE - Sebastiano Siviglia played for Verona in 1996/1997 and 1997/1998, while in 2003/2004 he wore the Lecce jersey. He then returned to Salento as coach of the Primavera team, in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The former defender is therefore a double ex of the yellow and blue team and the yellow and red team, who will find themselves face to face on Sunday, at 3 pm, in a match that has a notable value in the economy of the race for salvation.

"I expect an open confrontation, in which both contenders will try to conquer the entire stake - says Siviglia - Verona, by winning, would be completely safe and will therefore have great motivation. But so will Lecce who, with a victory, would make a first-rate leap forward in the economy of the brawl-permanence. Especially if Empoli and Venezia were not to conquer the entire stake. In short, there are the premises for a match full of emotion and balanced".

The team coached by Marco Giampaolo has not won since January 31st and in the last 12 games they have only managed 4 points: "These are the numbers, but they don't tell the whole story - continues the former defender of Lecce and Verona - I have seen several matches of the Giallorossi, including the last one with Napoli. Well, Baschirotto and his teammates are on the ball, they fight bravely, they believe in salvation and they really want to achieve it. These are important aspects with three games to go until the end of the tournament. In short, the Salento team is a lively one".

Many commentators believe that the quota for permanence will be very low and that, to remain in the top division, 33 or even 32 points could be enough: «I am also convinced that this will be the ceiling to confirm the category, as at the bottom, in addition to Empoli, Venezia and Lecce, all the teams are recording a slow progress. With 270 minutes to go, however, no one can be sure and therefore it will still be a close fight and there will be no complexes that will pull in the oars because the points still available could allow Verona, Parma and Cagliari to be sucked into the minefield, even if, on paper, they seem quite calm». Siviglia focuses on the environment surrounding Lecce: «The fans have always been close to the team and will be until the last minute of the final challenge. The compactness shown in the match with Napoli, the constant encouragement guaranteed by the “Via del Mare”, the will of everyone to row towards a feat, the third salvation in a row, which would be historic, constitute an added value. Few of the clubs jostling at the back can count on the support that the Giallorossi eleven boasts. No one will back down."

The calendar of the remaining three days would seem to favor Empoli, who however are -2 from Lecce and -1 from Venezia: «When the points weigh like boulders, dwelling on the names of the opponents doesn't make much sense. It's about giving everything and more to gain the maximum possible loot. In the end, the accounts will be done. On the other hand, in the next round the Tuscans will certainly not have an easy life against a Parma that has the same points as Verona and that, just like the Scaligeri, would put themselves in safety by winning. If the match of the Salento is delicate, I don't see why the one of the Azzurri directed by D'Aversa shouldn't be». In view of the challenge with the Scaligeri, the center forward Nikola Krstovic is still uncertain: «For Lecce it would be a heavy forfeit. The Montenegrin is a top-class striker, who is doing well and who has ample room for improvement to aspire to important stages in the continuation of his career. In football, however, the team wins or loses and therefore, in Verona, to deserve a positive result, a performance worthy of the team will be needed from each of the players who will be thrown into the fray, both from the start and during the game".

In the two years he spent in Lecce as Primavera coach, Siviglia met Graziano Fiorita: «He worked with the first team, but I had the opportunity to appreciate him. His death was a trauma. For his role, as a physiotherapist, he establishes a strong bond with the players. He creates a great empathy with them, a sort of complicity. Unfortunately, as they say in these cases, the "show" must go on and the men led by Giampaolo were good at reacting in Bergamo, showing off a performance of substance. They then repeated themselves with Napoli and on Sunday they will try to do the same in Verona».