“Reinforcing the foundations so that we are not forced to continually adapt elements.” Lecce is working inward and welcomes Danilo Veiga and Tiago Gabriel, defenders both from the team where Corvino had already picked up Kialonda Gaspar in the summer. Estrela, 15th on 17 points in the Liga de Portugal, has so far scored 16 and conceded 30 goals in 19 league games. The Portuguese, bought outright, will provide breathing room for a rearguard that has faced league engagements with four role defenders in recent outings.
In the module designed by coach Jose Faria, 3-5-2 that can evolve into 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3, the right flank was the territory of Danilo Veiga, a prospect of the Portuguese under-21. Numerically, the 22-year-old will occupy the slot that was Pelmard’s, who was sold due to the well-known facts. Veiga, who grew up in Porto, made his place among the big boys first with Gil Vicente and then in his Croatian adventure at Rijeka, where he also played the Conference League after his first six months as a starter. In 2023/2024, less continuity of employment with the Istrian club, second behind Dinamo Zagreb, and the decision to return to his homeland, with 15 appearances and 2 assists.
At the center of the defense is the youth of Tiago Gabriel. The behemoth (1.94 tall) did his youth training at Sporting CP Lisbon, later moving to Vitoria Setubal in 2020. In 2023, Estrela Amadora signed him, offering him a project up to the Lusitanian top flight. After a year in Estrela U23 second in the top youth league group, the debut in the top league to repopulate the department orphaned by Gaspar. In 11 games, Tiago Gabriel first composed the pair of defenders with captain Lopes (38-year-old former Porto and Lyon). With the switch to a 3-man defense chosen by sub-former coach Farias, he shifted to left-back.
The article The defense speaks Portuguese: how Lecce changes with Veiga and Tiago Gabriel comes from Calcio Lecce.
