Alto Canavese, last effort to end the year well

Wide gap on the third, the playoffs seem close at hand but coach Matteotti doesn’t trust: “Everyone wants to trip the leaders”

HEART

The victory last Saturday, 11 December, 3-1 over Ciriè, the ninth consecutive championship in group A of men’s Serie B, confirms the Alto Canavese alone at the top of the standings. The points behind the second, Acqui Terme of the former Matteo Bolla, are always three, but the fact that makes the Cuorgnatesi happier is what separates them from the third in the standings, the Ciriè: ten points. And the reasons for this happiness are explained by coach Fabio Matteotti: “The national regulations of Fipav have defined that the first two teams classified are accredited to play the playoffs to access A3 and at the moment we have ten points ahead of the third – explains Matteotti – . An important gap, but that must absolutely not make us relax: at the end of the first round there are still two games left: on Saturday we will face the Npsg La Spezia again at home, then after the Christmas holidays, on Saturday 8 January we will have the clash with Acqui Spas in the land of Alexandria. In light of the regulations, finishing first or second at the end changes little or nothing, because in both cases we will then have to face the playoffs. We did not expect such a clear margin on the third classified after just nine rounds of the championship and not even nine of our victories, although we knew we have a good team, made up of players who always keep the intensity high even in training, work with great commitment and constancy. . There is the desire to win the largest number of games, we have enthusiasm, but also the awareness that we will have to continue to maintain humility and respect for every opponent we will face, both in the high rankings and in the fight not to be relegated. Serie C (the last three classified will drop by category, ed)».

Coach Matteotti looks ahead: «Before the Christmas holidays we still have to make a great effort, beat NPSG La Spezia on Saturday, the most difficult obstacle – comments Matteotti – then we will think about Acqui Terme and how to face the second round. Last Saturday it was important to win against Ciriè, both because he was our beast last season, then because it was a derby and then because we sent them to -11, taking them away from the playoff area. But woe to give them up for dead – comments Matteotti – so far we have had to fight with all our strength to be able to win games against even very strong opponents. Knowing that we are the first of the class then, everyone wants to try to trip us, but we will have to be good at avoiding falling into these traps ». The Alto Canavese is increasingly launched towards the playoffs and at the moment it is showing that it does not suffer from vertigo. –