ROVETTA (BG)
The Varzi always starts from a valley, moving from the Staffora valley to the Seriana valley. We are in Rovetta, a tourist resort in the province of Bergamo, also home to important retreats (Atalanta was there for eleven, until 2019).
Almost 800 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains. The “Gian Paolo Marinoni” sports center in Rovetta will host double sessions until August 17th, including the friendly match on the 14th against Brusaporto (Serie D).
It no longer seems like the Varzi who finished fourth in Group B of Excellence, the one in which, until a few days from the end, the grenades excelled at the top of the standings. Many have left, and many have consequently arrived, at the court of Mr. “The Specialist” Alessandro Pagano, in the fifth year as undisputed leader of a team that under the aegis of President Fabrizio Catenacci, has all the bellicose intentions to raise the bar and be considered, initially at least on paper pending feedback from the field, one of the favorite teams in the final jump.
And how does Mr. Pagano see this Varzi to be shaped?
«It is true, there are many new faces. Young people are a bit to be discovered, while the so-called old we know them well, for having seen them play and for having faced them over the years. I believe that the youngest, with the desire to be seen, will bring enthusiasm and new blood and this certainly won’t hurt. It may take a little more time but I hope to find the team as soon as possible ».
Could you change the tactical module?
«Let’s say we’ll try to play differently, with the attacking midfielder. In a sort of 4-3-1-2, which approaches 4-3-3, even if movements and positions on the field will change a bit. It won’t be a problem, a team must know how to play in several ways, but I think we have already demonstrated this ».
The company has made a very important market, to raise the bar.
«The club makes extra efforts every year because it wants to do well, in practice it wants to race to win. I believe that what happened in the two months of the restart, with the mini-championship, is still there for all to see. Varzi, despite the presence of stronger and more famous teams, was on the verge of winning. In the end, Alcione won, which for me was not the strongest team, Sant’Angelo who had to break the world did not, and other well-equipped clubs arrived behind us ».
Objective, then?
«A top championship, aiming to do well and see to be able to stay up there, with the other stronger ones. Then if the time comes to play it, we’ll play it ».
News also in the technical staff.
“Apart from Tibe Loda who continues the adventure by my side, as an important person, humanly valid and very well prepared football, we have the inputs of the goalkeeper coach Benaglia who worked with me in the past and then the athletic coach Lanzarotti with whom I I’m already reported. We will be a good group ».
Will Covid still be conditioning?
“I hope not, but we can’t know. I hope that there are no matches to postpone and that the championship does not become strange and fragmented ».
So hoping that the public will always be there too.
«Football without an audience is not the same thing. The fans, few or many, are our thrust ».
Four friendly matches are scheduled. Called the first with the Brusaporto (14 August, 5 pm, in Rovetta), the others to follow those of Trino (Roberto Picco stadium, Sunday 22 August, time to be determined) against the same category (Piedmontese Excellence) of Le Grange Trino. Then we return to the Carlo Chiappano sports center in Varzi, for the two friendly matches, the one on Saturday 28 August (6 pm) against HSL Derthona (Serie D) and on Wednesday 1 September (20.30) against Alagna ( Promotion). On the technical staff front, in addition to the confirmed deputy of Pagano, coach Tiberio Loda, the new faces, those of the athletic trainer Roberto Lanzarotti, and Daniele Benaglia as goalkeeping trainer. Well-known faces are those of the masseur Alex Grassi, the team manager Daniele Travini, and the warehouseman and logistics manager, Giovanni Reali.
This is the current Varzi football squad for the 2021/2022 season, available to coach Alessandro Pagano and deputy Lodola. Goalkeepers: Murriero, Masotino. Defenders: Catenacci, Scarcella, Cigagna, Lopane, Lombardi, Baggini, Caria, Ruggeri, Bouchefra, Gerosa. Midfielders: Rebuscini, Monopoli, Domenichetti, Santobuono, Iervolino, Marcinnò, Mazzocca, Lewandowski, Ababio, Ranzetti. Forwards: Grasso, Pizzini, Toledo, Citterio.