TREVISO. Benetton certainly did not vote for Innocenti, in the elections of the turning point in Roma. And the triumph of the president of the Venetian committee calls into question the “pax armata” that Treviso had reached with Gavazzi. The new helmsman of the Fir has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to review and modalities, if not the extent, of the federal contributions to the deductibles.
Zatta, it’s no secret that you weren’t a fan of Innocenti. What changes now?
“I think that sooner or later we will have the opportunity to meet and talk, I think he should be given time to take a difficult situation in hand, he has been in office for a week”
You had argued that with him you risked penalizing the top to relaunch the Italian championship.
“We will talk about it, it is right that now and he makes his considerations, there is time to discuss, also in the light of what is happening in this period”.
Are you referring to the national team? Treviso once saved Italy’s face, but now Bemetton is like the Azzurri: they don’t win one, at least in Pro 14.
«For us it was a difficult year, I don’t want to be justifications, the problems were for everyone but we paid in a particular way, in some situations it was dramatic, disastrous. An example: there are Azzurri that we have practically never seen, and this has upset planning and preparation “
Let’s go back to the Fir. With Gavazzi the question of the Academy in Treviso was on the table. Better than Treviso.
«Yes, a project that has already been postponed for some years. The Academy of our team. But now, in Pro 14, there is also talk of a reduced Pro 14 for teams under 23. There are various hypotheses and projects, we will talk with Innocenti on this too “
Now the Fir turns you 4.5 million a year, the other 5 you put them.
“Yes, the others come from Benetton and other sponsors”.
The contract with the Pro 14 comes to 2024. And then?
«There is this Rainbow Cup, we will see dates and formulas, the future is fascinating. On our part, there is the will to move forward in Pro 14, as demonstrated by our investments in staff and squad, especially in the most promising young people ».
How do you leave? now there is the Rainbow Cup …
“Before talking about the future it is important to intervene well in the sectors and areas where this year there have been the most glaring problems”
The team has taken steps backwards in the game, especially in melee and in attack.
«After the start of the season we have never been able to field the strongest XV, on the contrary we have arrived at pure emergency formations. And I underline, to give an example, the weight of injuries on the front line, where for some time we have only had young people ».
The Zebras, however, have won a few games
“Already. Unfortunately also the derbies against us. But I also remember the many games we lost on the fil. Now we are hoping for the Challenge Cup, to leave a mark in this bitter season.
Quarters goal?
«Agen is within reach, especially if we have the players of the national team available, whom we have practically not seen since last autumn. Getting to the quarters would be important, not just for us ».
If you win there is the winner of Montpellier-Glasgow.
«And we can try to have our say, as we did in Limerick in the playoffs, we were ahead until the 75th minute».
How do you digest this season as president? 14 losses in a row …
“Frankly, I have no memories, and I’m in my 24th season as president. It’s not easy, but I tried to stay calm enough … no, let’s say calm, calm is not the right word to analyze what happened ».
Do you have any regrets?
«Maybe not having won one of the matches we missed very little. I remain convinced that the team would have unlocked. Instead, continuing to lose has increased insecurity and doubts, and therefore negativity. A vicious circle with no way out ».
Do you have a recipe for Treviso’s future? And for Italian rugby everything, from the national team down?
«Work, and a lot of will. And maximum availability to look for the best conditions in which to work. For our part, we bet on young people and on the technicians we have included in the staff ».
And a South African loom.
«Not only that, we bet on new defense and attack, with a new head coach who knows the environment very well. Turn the page, it’s a new chapter. After such a season, it is absolutely necessary ». –