La rivalità tra Lecce e Torino non si dimentica. Vanoli non è indifferente al tema e ha spronato i suoi a onorare la maglia granata
“In Lecce we must honor the commitment to history.” Paolo Vanoli spoke in a press conference on the eve of the challenge between Lecce and Torino. The challenge between the Giallorossi and the Granata has a special flavor. The rivalry between the clubs and the fans is well established and Vanoli reiterated the importance of the upcoming match.
Salento is a bitter land for Toro. In Lecce, the granata suffered bitter defeats, even costing them relegation to Serie B. The Granata coach spurred his team to play for history. Vanoli said, ” Useless to hide what happened in that field even to great coaches like Mondonico, if we know the history we have to think about that too.”
Lecce-Torino, una partita decisiva
The challenge between Lecce and Torino played at the “Via del mare” stadium proved decisive several times for the clubs’ stay in Serie A. Toro has suffered two heavy humiliations in Lecce. The first on June 25, 1989, when the granata coached by Vatta lost 3-1. The defeat in Puglia condemned Toro to relegation to Serie B. In that match, the Lecce curve displayed a banner that read “Dear granata, Licata is waiting for you!” The words of the Giallorossi fans, referring to the Granata relegation and the trip to the home of the Sicilian formation, made the anger of the Toro people explode. Thus was born the heated rivalry between the supporters of the two teams, which has continued over the years.
In the 1999/2000 season, again at home to the Giallorossi, Torino lost and suffered the fourth relegation in its history. On May 7, 2000, Mondonico’s granata fell 2-1 in Lecce, waving goodbye to Serie A. This year, the team with its back against the wall is the team from Salento. Marco Giampaolo’s lineup, in fact, is playing for permanence in Serie A in the last 2 days of the championship. A knockout in the challenge with Torino risks jeopardizing the Giallorossi’s salvation, with the team called to win to keep the fans’ dream alive.
L’importanza della storia per Vanoli
Paolo Vanoli proved to be the first Granata fan. The Torino coach repeatedly stressed the importance of Toro’s history. From May 4 to the rivalry with Lecce, the former Venice man exposed himself as no other coach had ever done in previous years.
At the press conference, Vanoli reiterated, “I always try to bring forward the values of a club, even at the level of history. In this week I have perceived this, one should not emphasize it but one should respect it. This is something I have talked about with the team. Like Superga, for us Superga has to be every day not just on May 4. I try to do my best to transfer this to the boys.” Lecce will be fierce and looking for a very valuable victory. Torino’s extra gear could come from the very words of Paolo Vanoli.
Borna Sosa of Torino FC competes for the ball with Remi Oudin of US Lecce during the Serie A football match between Torino FC and US Lecce.
